The Planning Division's mission is to guide Anchorage land use development and community resources to meet the quality of life, economic, social, environmental, and physical needs of present and future residents.
Good planning makes for livable neighborhoods, a safe and healthy community, and a sustainable economy. How land use fits in with housing, transportation, community and economic development gives Anchorage its character.
The Planning Division has a staff of 25 in three sections that are responsible for a wide range of planning, zoning, and development activities.
Current News
May 14, 2012:
The Public Review Draft of the Historic Preservation Plan for Anchorage’s Original Four Neighborhoods (HPP) is a community-based plan initiated by the Municipality of Anchorage as a National Historic Preservation Act-Section 106 mitigation effort. The planning area includes Government Hill, Downtown, South Addition, and Fairview community council areas. Ship Creek is also included because so much of Anchorage’s early documented development started there, and it lies within three of the four original neighborhoods. The HPP will be the foundation for future historic preservation planning efforts in the Anchorage Bowl by the Municipality with support from the Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission. Community outreach efforts have included target mailings to the four neighborhoods, Alaska Native Peoples and Tribes, government agencies and other interested parties. A Final Draft of the HPP is anticipated for approval by the Anchorage Assembly in November-December 2012.
Download the Historic Preservation Plan (HPP) and the Public Outreach Schedule below.
Historic Preservation Plan for Anchorage's Original Four Neighborhoods
HPP Public Outreach Schedule
March 12, 2012: Anchorage Housing Market Analysis
The Planning Division has recently completed the Anchorage Housing Market Analysis. This is a technical report that includes a projection of housing demand, an analysis of residential land supply, and an estimate of financial feasibility of compact housing types. This technical report is intended to inform those involved in the Municipality’s ongoing planning and policy-making processes.
The Municipality contracted with McDowell Group and ECONorthwest to prepare a technical report regarding the Anchorage Housing Market. The purpose of this technical report is to (a) project future demand for various housing types; (b) determine the housing capacity of residential lands; and (c) determine the financial feasibility of compact housing types. The report concludes with the identification of key housing issues and a discussion of policy options for the Municipality to consider.
Anchorage Housing Market Analysis Summary Report
Appendix A: Housing Demand Preliminary Research Memorandum
Appendix B: Household Telephone and Online Survey Results
Appendix C: Anchorage Forecast for Housing Demand 2010-2030
Appendix D: Pro Forma Feasibility Analysis
Appendix E: Compact Housing Case Studies
Appendix F: Buildable Lands Inventory and Housing Capacity Analysis
Contact: Karen Iverson at 343-7941 or iversonkr@muni.org.
April 27, 2012: Title 21 Rewrite
In February, the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) requested re-noticing Case 2011-104 in order to open all of the provisionally adopted title 21 for public comment and recommended changes at PZC.
Therefore, the public hearing on the case was changed to include all the provisionally adopted chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, and 13, as well as draft chapter 14--in addition to the proposed amendments that were brought forward at the request of the Administration. Public hearings were held on March 12 and 19.
See PZC Hearing Schedule and Process on the Title 21 Rewrite project page. The proposed amendments to the Provisionally Adopted Title 21 are available in the following documents:
Proposed Amendments to the Provisionally Adopted Title 21 (PZC Case 2011-104, dated December 12, 2011)
Proposed Amendments to Chapter 21.14, Rules of Construction and Definitions (Amendment 106 to December 12, 2011 Proposed Amendment Table)
Addendum to the Proposed Amendments to the Provisionally Adopted Title 21 (PZC Case 2011-104, dated February 13, 2012)
To facilitate public review of the list of proposed amendments above, a new version of the Provisionally Adopted Title 21 Rewrite including technical edits (dated December 12, 2011) is available. This version updated the May 2010 version because it includes a section which was not provisionally adopted by the Assembly until the fall of 2010.
Contact: 343-7921 or title21@muni.org