​COVID-19 and Department Status

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August 10, 2020

Click here for Information for Temporary Use of Outdoor Tents during COVID-19 Mitigation

April 24, 2020

Public Meetings Held Remotely

Regulatory/Adjudicatory Boards and Commissions

Due to concerns over large gatherings amid the COVID-19 outbreak and to conform with federal, state, and local health department guidance and emergency measures, the Assembly Chambers at the Loussac Library is  currently closed to the public and will not be open for public meetings.

The municipal Planning Department will hold public hearings remotely for the following boards and commissions:

  • Planning & Zoning Commission
  • Platting Board
  • Urban Design Commission
  • Zoning Board of Examiners & Appeals

The hearings will broadcast live on Channel 9, and live audio will be streamed on the municipal website at: http://www.muni.org/Residents/Pages/MuniMeetings.aspx.

In addition to the usual opportunities for written testimony, anyone may request to testify on a public hearing agenda item via phone. To provide verbal testimony, please email PlanningPhoneTestimony@anchorageak.gov by 2:00 p.m. the day of the meeting with your name, phone number, and requested agenda item(s). The subject line should read "Phone Testimony." The secretary will call you at the number you provide. Individuals will have 3 minutes to testify, while representatives of groups will have 5 minutes. 

This new public hearing procedure will remain in effect until further notice. For more information, contact the Planning Department at (907) 343-7943, and continue to check back at this website periodically for updated information.

Community Meetings During COVID-19 (Updated 4-20-2020)

Due to COVID-19, many community councils are canceling regular meetings.  Anchorage Municipal Code 21.03.020C. requires community meetings for rezonings, subdivisions, conditional uses, marijuana special land use permits, institutional master plans, major site plan reviews, and public facility site selections.

Below is a memo addressing on-line or teleconferencing meetings in lieu of an
in-person public meeting.

Community Meetings During COVID-19

March 26, 2020

MOA Letter Regarding 2020 Design and Construction Work

As Anchorage, Alaska, and the nation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, we at the Municipality want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to continue our design and construction program of work for 2020. We recognize the importance of these projects to the citizens of Anchorage, and to the economy. Below is the letter.  

Letter to Consultant, Construction, and Development Partners

March 17, 2020

The Planning Department is open for business, but to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of customers and staff and to limit exposure, the Department is implementing the following changes in service until further notice. The most recognizable of the services will be the reduction in face-to-face customer interactions between the public and Planning staff through: 

Application Submittal: All walk-in and over-the-counter services are suspended. Customers may only pick up or drop off applications at the tables provided at the front door in the Planning and Development Center (Permit Center). All received applications will be processed by staff without further face-to-face customer interactions. Payment can be made over the phone by credit card at 343-8211, extension 1, unless you have a credit card on file. 

Quarantine of Submitted Applications: As COVID-19 is detectable for up to 3 hours after aerosolization and is spreadable through contaminated surfaces or objects, all submitted hardcopy documents or plans will be placed in quarantine overnight before being reviewed or processed. 

We encourage the public to reach out to us through e-mails, telephone, or Microsoft Teams as much as possible.   Here is a link to our staff directory.