PURPOSE OF CLASSIFICATION

 Classification of property is for review, plan implementation, and management purposes. 

The classification system designates the most appropriate uses for land and thereby guides borough management of such lands and implementation actions to provide for the identified uses.

 KPB 17.10.080 (A)

 

 

POLICY FOR MANAGEMENT OF BOROUGH LAND

It is the policy of the Kenai Peninsula Borough to manage all borough owned and municipal entitlement lands and resources to provide for:

1.   The efficient acquisition, management, classification, and disposal of borough lands;

2.   The promotion of orderly development;

3.   The protection and orderly management of the borough’s natural resources;

4.   The preservation of borough lands and resources for wildlife habitat, scenic value, recreational      needs, and historic needs;

5.   The retention of borough lands essential for health, safety, and education needs;

6.   The orderly disposal of lands and resources in a manner which is fair to all

KPB 17.10.010 (A)

 

 

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN CLASSIFICATION AND ZONING?

Classification is borough policy regarding management and use of land for the time that it is owned by the borough. Once the land is sold, the classification goes away, and the use of the land is regulated by zoning and the choices of the owner.

Zoning is local law regulating uses of the land for any owner.

The majority of lands in the borough outside of city limits are in the Rural District, which is unrestricted except for the conditional uses of concentrated animal feeding operations, gravel pits larger than 1-acre, development in FEMA mapped floodplains, development within 50 feet of anadromous water, and correctional community residential centers.

Borough zoning code, Title 21, allows for the formation of more defined zones by local option among groups of similarly styled parcels.

 

 

THE CLASSIFICATION PROCESS

1.   Borough land is nominated for classification.

2.   A time schedule is set for public hearings

3.   Public notice is sent to all Landowners within ½ miles inviting public comment.

4.   Land is researched with respect to title, land characteristics, and surrounding features.

5.   A report is developed with an analysis considering observed values and potential uses.

6.   Public comments are received and attached to the report.

7.   A resolution is drafted to present the classification proposal.

8.   The Borough Planning Commission holds a public hearing at which the staff report is considered and direct public testimony is heard.

9.   The Borough Planning Commission makes a recommendation to the Assembly on the resolution.

10.  The Planning Commission minutes are sent to the Assembly along with the draft resolution.

11.  The Assembly’s Lands Committee is briefed on the resolution

12.  The Assembly holds a public hearing taking direct public testimony, deliberating on the matters, considering amendments, and voting on the final resolution.

13.  Land management updates land records to reflect the classification action.

14.  Land management established a management plan to carry out the intent of the classification.

15.  Land management take management actions accordingly.

ALTERNATIVELY:

Borough land can be classified based on a local land use plan adopted under the Borough Comprehensive Plan.

 

 

CLASSIFICATION TRUE OR FALSE

Classification amounts to zoning..........................................................................................False

Classification uses the same land use words as zoning........................................................True

Classification puts expectations on land managers...............................................................True

Classification guides the actions of land managers...............................................................True

Land managers perform land uses.......................................................................................False

Land managers can create conditions favorable for land uses..............................................True

Classification exists after land is sold...................................................................................False

All classified land is intended to be sold...............................................................................False

Everything about a property is known when land is classified.............................................False

Classification is a product of land capabilities and values.....................................................True

Land capabilities are physical characteristics........................................................................True

Values are realized by individuals and the public at large.....................................................True

Classification is a language to communicate choices & intentions........................................True

A large inventory of lands can be managed well without classification................................False

 

 

CLASSIFICATION OPTIONS

All borough lands shall be classified as one of the following:

  • Agriculture
  • Residential
  • Commercial
  • Heavy Industrial
  • Light Industrial
  • Recreation
  • Preservation
  • Government
  • Resource Development
  • Resource Management
  • Institutional
  • Utility/Transportation
  • Waste Handling
  • Rural
  • Grazing

The classifications are specifically defined in KPB 17.10.250

All borough lands or interest in lands or resources not otherwise classified are undesignated lands.

KPB 17.10.080 (K) & (L)

 

 

 

 

MissionManagementClassificationOutlay

“Casual Use” means a use of borough land that is nonexclusive and involves only minimal disturbance to the land.  Nonexclusive examples of a casual use are hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, camping for less than fourteen days, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snow machining; berry picking, brushing survey lines or trails where roots are not disturbed, livestock drives, and the use of all-terrain vehicles off an established road or right-of-way but on an existing trail. However, hiking trails or consistent use for hiking and establishing hunting camps do not constitute a casual use.  Casual use of borough land does not create an interest in the title of the land and does not require a permit.  Casual use is defined in KPB code 17.10.190 and 17.10.250(c). 

The casual use activity may be conducted on vacant property that is not for sale, is not occupied by another use, and is not currently leased or permitted to another user.  Depending on the type of casual use, there may be additional guidelines to follow.  Below are links to guidelines to the most common casual uses of borough land: 

 

Property Owner Firewise & Hazard Tree Removal on
Adjacent Vacant Borough Land

Guidelines for Gathering Dead Trees on KPB Land

Guidelines for Gathering Berries/Mushrooms on KPB Land

Guidelines for Beekeeping on KPB Land

 

If you have any question on whether or not your activity falls under a casual use please contact the Land Management Division.  To locate borough lands available for casual use - use the KPB Casual Use Lands Viewer Use the Layer Tab to find KPB Facilities and Land by Selecting KPB Parcels Available for Casual Use.


Drone Technical Conference
11/21/2017

On November 21st, 2017 the Land Management Division of the Kenai Peninsula Borough hosted a Drone Technical Conference for individuals and  organizations tasked with building and maintaining key infrastructures within our region.  Hospitals, landfills, boat harbors, oil platforms, roads, industrial plants, hydroelectric dams and schools can benefit throughout planning, construction and maintenance cycles from the high-resolutions spatial images that drone and related instrument technology makes easily accessible and affordable.  Below are links to the agenda, welcome address and  the presentations given at the conference.

Alaska Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center:  Use this site to access DNR information on all kinds of maps, plats and other data specific to the State of Alaska.   http://dnr.alaska.gov/commis/pic/maps.htm 

USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer:  Use this site to access historical topographic map information anywhere in the United States.    
http://historicalmaps.arcgis.com/usgs/ 

USDA Web Soil Survey:  Web Soil Survey provides soil data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey.  
http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm 

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