Bonanza Fuel wants to build a 5,000-square-foot workshop in Nome to bring maintenance of its fuel trucks, loaders and other equipment indoors. The proposed site on East 5th Ave is currently zoned for residential purposes, and would need to be rezoned for construction to move forward.
The Nome Planning Commission is set to review the rezoning request next week.
Anchorage-based engineering firm Arcadis, applying on behalf of Sitnasuak Native Corporation subsidiary Bonanza Fuel, is asking the city to rezone about 2.65 acres from residential to commercial. The request includes eight parcels owned by Nanuaq LLC, another subsidiary of Sitnasuak, and adjoining street rights-of-way along East Fifth Avenue and East E and F streets.
The plans also call for indoor parts storage, administrative offices and an outdoor area to stage fleet vehicles.
In its application, Arcadis said the shop would protect equipment from the weather and move some outdoor maintenance and storage inside. The firm said it expects the facility to serve Bonanza’s existing fuel-delivery operations without a substantial increase in traffic. It also said the project could incorporate screening and controls on outdoor lighting and noise.
In a report to the Planning Commission, city staff recommend denying the rezoning. Its report says the change would remove land available for housing, create an isolated commercial district and leave nearby residential streets handling heavy vehicles. Staff also said commercial zoning would allow a range of other businesses on the property in the future.
The Planning Commission will make a recommendation to the Nome Common Council, which has the final say on the rezoning. If the council approves the change, Bonanza would still need a conditional use permit for the repair shop.
Nome Common Council member Scot Henderson, in his capacity as CEO of Bonanza, signed the rezoning application.
The commission will also hold hearings on two King Island Native Community variance requests at 1207 and 1209 East Sixth Avenue. The tribe wants to shift the boundary between the properties to resolve a stairway encroachment at its affordable housing development. The change would require exceptions to rules on how close structures can sit to property lines and how narrow one of the lots can be.
City staff recommended denying both requests because the homes were placed before the property lines were verified. Staff said the setback problems could be fixed by modifying the stairs or adjusting utility connections.
The Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. at City Hall. KNOM will livestream the meeting on its Facebook and YouTube pages.
