The Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 22 directed staff to study tent camping in the city, particularly in residential zones, after residents raised concerns about tents appearing on a cleared lot near the airport.

Director Buettner summarized a recent inquiry: a property on or near Third Avenue had been cleared after demolition of a derelict house, then tents, portable restrooms and a dumpster appeared on the lot. Staff said they spoke with a person on site who said the property owner and their members were using the parcel for private, noncommercial camping; staff observed the site and characterized it as orderly and said no police or public complaints were recorded.

Staff and commissioners noted that the Kenai Municipal Code contains limited language specifically about tent camping: code has restrictions for recreational vehicles and some references to city lands, but does not define "tent" or set explicit limits on tent camping on private residential lots. Buettner told the commission that because portable toilets and sanitary facilities were present at the site, the occupants technically met the intent of current code, but that neighbors' discomfort and gaps in the code prompted council to ask the commission to look into the issue.

Commissioners discussed possible approaches, including establishing definitions (for example, what constitutes a tent, a campground, or a temporary stay), time limits, occupancy limits, and rules that coordinate tent camping and RVs. Commissioners raised specific public-safety and nuisance concerns: potential impacts to emergency access, prolonged occupancy in residential neighborhoods, generator and noise complaints, and the risk of winter camping-related carbon monoxide incidents. Several commissioners emphasized balancing property owners’ rights to use their lots with neighborhood expectations and public-safety protections.

Commissioners asked whether code changes would apply when a residence exists on the lot and whether family guests would be affected; staff said the commission could recommend exemptions or different rules for properties with homes. Buettner recommended starting with code definitions and thresholds (duration, number of tents, public-health requirements) and holding one or more work sessions to refine recommendations before forwarding them to the City Council.

The commission discussed scheduling a work session to begin the conversation; later in the meeting the commission set a work session for 6 p.m. on Nov. 12 and agreed to cancel the Nov. 26 and Dec. 24 regular meetings. Staff said work-session timing could be adjusted if there is insufficient public-notice lead time.

Next steps: staff will prepare draft definitions and options for tent- and RV-related regulations for the commission to review at one or more work sessions, then the commission can forward recommendations to the City Council if it chooses.

No formal code changes were adopted; the action at the Oct. 22 meeting was direction to study the issue and hold work sessions.