In Skagway, Alaska, a critical housing shortage is prompting urgent discussions and calls for action by local leaders. The challenge is exacerbated by a municipal code that complicates the addition of new housing developments, particularly impeding residents who wish to convert existing structures into livable spaces due to strict property setback regulations.
This housing crisis affects both the permanent and temporary populations in Skagway, where local business owners often convert long-term rental properties into accommodations for seasonal workers. This shift puts immense pressure on available housing, relegating some seasonal employees to less-than-adequate living conditions, which raises safety concerns among borough officials.
Recently, Skagway resident Jonathan Hillis experienced firsthand the difficulties posed by the current regulations. Hillis, who bought his home in February 2023, sought to convert an existing, well-constructed garage into a year-round studio apartment. Despite the garage being granted a variance for setback codes over ten years ago by a previous owner, Hillis’s request for a conditional use permit was denied by the Skagway Planning and Zoning Commission and subsequently by a quasi-judicial Board of Appeals.
This inconsistency in rule enforcement and code interpretation arises partly because the composition of the borough’s assembly, boards, and commissions often changes following elections. Each new configuration potentially interprets the municipal codes differently, as noted by Emily Deach, the deputy borough manager. Deach acknowledged the need for clearer regulations to reduce the ambiguity that often frustrates residents and impedes housing development.
The sentiment of frustration is shared by other residents who have faced similar barriers. For instance, Jim Higgins attempted to covert his own garage into a quality apartment for his family members who faced imminent homelessness due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite hiring licensed professionals and nearly completing the renovations, the local permitting official halted the construction due to improper permitting, putting Higgins at risk of having to demolish his nearly completed project.
Complications such as these highlight the community’s pressing need for updated and streamlined building and zoning codes, especially since some structures miss the cutoff for more lenient regulations by mere months.
Both residents and officials are calling for reform. Higgins, for example, expressed hope that future collaboration between the Assembly and the Planning and Zoning Committee would lead to revised and modernized building codes that are more accommodating to the community’s needs.
In response, the deputy borough manager also expressed a desire to find common ground with residents, aiming for solutions that could facilitate easier compliance with local codes while addressing the urgent housing shortage.
To address these ongoing issues and potential code modifications, the Civic Affairs Committee has scheduled a meeting to discuss these matters explicitly, with the goal of revisiting and possibly revising the setback regulations.
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