About, Documents, & FAQs

Update: October 26, 2022

PZC Case No. 2022-0129, Title 21 Text Amendment to Update the Downtown Code, Amending Chapters 21.07, Development and Design Standards, and 21.11, Downtown - Request for Public Comments

The Planning Department is seeking comments on a proposed text amendment to the regulations in the Anchorage Municipal Code Zoning Ordinance (Title 21) for the update of the Downtown code, Planning and Zoning Commission Case No. 2022-0129.

This project helps implement Action 3-9 of the Anchorage 2040 Land Use Plan. It is related to other ongoing and planned Title 21 code amendment projects and actions that seek to achieve the goals of the Anchorage 2040 Land Use Plan. For more information, visit the project website.

Your comments and recommendations on the Public Hearing Draft will be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers of the Z.J. Loussac Library, 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage. Recommendations and findings from the Planning and Zoning Commission process will be forwarded to the Assembly, which will also hold a public hearing before taking final action.

Written comments provided by November 14, 2022 will be included in the case packet that will go to the Commission before the December 12 meeting. Comments received after will go to the Commission as a supplementary packet. Submit written comments in the following ways:

If you have questions, please contact Kristine Bunnell in the Long-Range Planning Division at 343-7920.

Update: August 1, 2022

Our Downtown: Anchorage Downtown District Plan 2021 (A.O. 2022-24)

This plan is a “targeted” review and update of the 2007 Destination Downtown: Downtown Comprehensive Plan. Anchorage Municipal Code (AMC) 21.03.070.B.2. “Targeted Plan Review (10-year intervals) directs a targeted review of the plan at least once every 10 years, or in conjunction with an area-wide rezoning, to make it consistent with: 1.) Economic and demographic trends, 2.) Recent and proposed land use decisions, and 3.) Adopted studies and plans.”

This plan provides the goals, policies and action items needed to support economic recovery. This plan is intended to give the present and next generations a Downtown where residents and visitors will want to live, work and play. This plan also advocates for bringing focus and concentration of limited MOA and community resources to Our Downtown - The Heart of Anchorage.

Update: February 28, 2022

The Our Downtown: Anchorage Downtown District Plan 2021 will be presented at the Anchorage Assembly meeting on March 22, 2022 at the Z.J. Loussac Library, with the potential for it to be adopted as an element of the Comprehensive Plan. The Assembly meeting begins at 5:00 pm and public hearings begin at 6:00 pm. If you would like to testify at the public hearing, see the instructions below:

Appearing Before the Assembly

The agenda of an Assembly meeting offers three opportunities for comment; through a scheduled public hearing, an appearance request, or audience participation. In each case, the Assembly allows individuals to speak for three minutes.

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

If you plan on testifying at a public hearing, it is helpful to be seated in the front of the auditorium near the public podium. When the Chair opens the public hearing on a particular item on the agenda, approach the podium to speak. When speaking to the Assembly, first introduce yourself and spell your last name for the record. Support your testimony with as many facts as possible. The Assembly members may ask questions after your testimony. Answer the questions to the best of your ability and don't be afraid to say "I don't know."

There is no sign-up list for in-person testimony – the Chair will invite the public to speak on a first come basis. For information on how to sign up to provide written testimony or testimony over the phone, please visit this page.

APPEARANCE REQUESTS:

In order to be listed on the agenda under Appearance Requests, the requestor must complete and file an Appearance Request Form with the Municipal Clerk's Office. Your request will need to be submitted 1-2 weeks before the meeting at which you wish to appear. Appearances will be scheduled no later than 14 days after acceptance.

Appearance requests must be signed and specify the topic you wish to address. A statement reading "I wish to address the Assembly on this date on the following topic" is sufficient. Completed forms must be sent to the Municipal Clerk as follows:

• By email to wwmasmc@muni.org;
• By hand delivery to City Hall, 650 W. 6th Avenue, Suite 250;
• By mail to PO Box 196650, Anchorage, AK 99519-6650;
• By fax to 343-4313.

Update:

The Public Hearing Draft Plan is now available for review!

The draft plan was presented to the Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, December 6, 2021.

Watch an Our Downtown project presentation during a recent Anchorage Chamber of Commerce's Make It Monday forum. The presentation begins around the 10-minute mark of the video.

About Our Downtown

Step 2 is the second phase of the targeted update and review of the 2007 Anchorage Downtown Comprehensive Plan.

The intent of Step 2 is to review what has been accomplished in Downtown Anchorage since the 2007 Plan was adopted; assess present day conditions by reviewing the most recent economic, housing, and demographic data and public feedback; and determine how to incorporate recent changes to municipal code, land use decisions, and reports to create future objectives for the revitalization and development of Downtown Anchorage.