Assembly Members Brawley, Volland and Zaletel Update HOME Initiative
June 17, 2024
Today, Assembly Members Anna Brawley, Daniel Volland and Meg Zaletel announced a new, substitute version (S-1) of AO 2023-87, the HOME Initiative, reflecting feedback received through the public process.
The (S-1) version reverses most of the changes proposed through the HOME Initiative, including the consolidation of residential zones, and focuses the initiative on a single policy objective: eliminating single family zoning in the Anchorage Bowl.
“Things can quickly become overly complicated between legislative drafting and the robust public process, so let's keep it simple," said Assembly Member Volland. “We intend to put this new version in front of our colleagues for consideration at the June 25 Regular Meeting. This new version makes 'Two-Family Dwellings' a permitted use by-right in every residential zone and redefines 'Two-Family Dwellings' to include detached structures."
“There's a brilliance in simplicity," said Assembly Vice Chair Meg Zaletel. “By making two simple changes—permitting up to three units (two primary and one accessory) by-right where one unit currently exists and allowing dwelling units to be multiple structures—we provide flexibility in current code that empowers more housing."
“The public process behind the HOME Initiative has been enlightening," said Assembly Member Anna Brawley. “We set out with an ambitious goal to simplify our residential zoning code and make it easier to build housing. Among points of contention, the public process revealed where stakeholders could find consensus. The new version focuses on our points of consensus and sheds the baggage of our disagreements so we can be bold together."
The (S-1) version will be published tomorrow on the June 25 Regular Assembly Meeting agenda and is available to preview online: ancgov.info/HOME.
About HOME
AO 2023-87, or the “Housing Opportunities in the Municipality for Everyone (HOME) Initiative," was introduced in August 2023 and referred to the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC). The proposal excludes Girdwood and Chugiak/Eagle River, communities with separate chapters of zoning code whose land use is not determined by the 2040 LUP.
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Contact:
Anna Brawley | District 3, anna.brawley@anchorageak.gov
Daniel Volland | District 1, daniel.volland@anchorageak.gov
Meg Zaletel | District 4, meg.zaletel@anchorageak.gov