Unalaska’s planning commission will hold a public hearing Thursday on changes to the city zoning code, also known as Title 8. Big issues up for discussion include construction camps and planned housing developments.

Planning Director Erin Reinders says right now, city code makes little mention of construction camps. That means the planning commission has to address them on a case-by-case basis.

She says some of the changes they’re considering would define the camps as allowed in marine-related and marine-dependent industrial areas.

"At this point, what we’re recommending is that the construction camp is permitted by right," she says. "So that means if you want to build a construction camp in these areas, you just go and get your building permit, and you’re good."

Reinders discussed the changes on this week's edition of The Exchange. She says the camps would also be allowed as conditional use in commercial areas.

Other changes up for discussion relate to “planned unit developments” – multi-acre properties with clusters of houses or other designs that don’t necessarily conform to city code. Reinders says those changes encourage more creative site planning.

There are also proposed changes to the application deadline for certain zoning permits, and revisions to how the city defines subdivisions and lease lots.

The planning commission’s public hearing on the changes is Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Read more about the proposed changes here.