Girdwood Land Use Committee

Meeting on August 12, 2019

Minutes Draft – revised 8.16.19

The following items have been submitted as agenda items for consideration at the meeting of the Girdwood Land Use Committee. A voting member is any person eighteen (18) years of age or older who has been a resident and/or property owner, business owner or designated representative of a non-profit association who has resided in, owned property in, owned a business located in, or operated as a non-profit association for ninety (90) days or longer in Girdwood Valley.

The Girdwood Board of Supervisors, its committees, and subcommittees are subject to the Alaska Open Meetings Act as found in Alaska Statute 44.62.310 and Anchorage Municipal Code1.25 - Public Meetings.

Agenda Item LUC 1908-01:

Call to order 7PM Brian Burnett
Agenda Approved for August 12, 2019 Regular meeting
Minutes Approved from July 8, 2019 Regular Meeting
LUC Officer reports: None

Announcements & Presentations:

GBOS/LUC Joint meeting is scheduled for MON Sept 16 at 6PM in the Girdwood Community Room.

Anchorage Historic Preservation Commission Meeting in Girdwood on THU Aug 22. Pre-meeting includes tours at Alyeska and Roundhouse, formal meeting starts at 5:30 in the Girdwood Community Room.

HLB Advisory Commission meeting is scheduled to be held in Girdwood on September 10, starting at 12 in the Girdwood Community Room.

Agenda Item LUC 1908-02: Public Comment (3 minutes each)

Brian Burnett: Two accidents at the hand tram this summer, Incidents have been disturbing and impactful to those who work on the hand tram as well as trail users. Discussion is ongoing on the fate of the hand tram, and decommissioning of this iconic element of Girdwood Trails is possible. Girdwood Trails Committee needs input from community in the discussion of the future of the hand tram.

Agenda Item LUC 1908-03: Committee reports, 3 minutes each:

Trails Committee Report (Carolyn Brodin): Meeting held August 4. Girdwood Trails Master Plan seeking funding from GBOS.
Grant application for signage on the Beaver Pond/California Creek/Abe’s Trail will be submitted to KMTA shortly. These will be used as a template for future trail signage. Trail work all summer by SCA crew as well as by GTC at June and July work parties. GTC discussed and approved motion requesting GBOS Resolution of Support for DOT to apply for Alaska CTP funding to address design and safety concerns on the Alyeska Highway Pedestrian Safety Corridor. Virgin Creek Trail needs trail work as well as addressing parking and other issues. Flashing crosswalk light phase 1 is complete and phase 2 will be completed once materials arrive.

Hand tram incidents in June and August. In 18 years of operation, there have been 3 significant fall incidents: fall from tram dock in 2015 resulted in installation of safety netting; 2 falls in 2019. Additional signage and clamps added after first fall. Hand tram currently shut down for review. Management of the tram is responsibility of MOA staff, this year the hand tram has dominated staff time with incidents, 2 rope replacements, and inspections. Engineering firm reviewing tram facility to address safety elements. In addition, management of the tram needs to be extended beyond the current staff assignment. Winner Creek Trail has been improved significantly over the years, increase in visitor use of the trails throughout Girdwood, and use of the hand tram has increased since construction in 1999; it is typical to see a line of 20+ people waiting to cross the tram. The hand tram is now a destination, rather than a part of the trail. This is a community built project, community needs to determine how to manage it safely and sustainably. MOA wants to know what the community wants to do. Risks to humans and financial risk to taxpayers.

HLB Commission Report (Ron Tenny): Group has not met during the summer. Sept 10 at 12PM meeting will be held in Girdwood Community Room. Main project in Girdwood with HLB currently is the Industrial Park. Discussion about Virgin Creek Falls trail. Shelley Rowton has been hired to replace Nicole Jones-Vogel position with HLB.

Girdwood Area Plan Update Committee (Eric Fullerton): no update

Little Bears Re-build project (Kyle Kelley): Addressed later in agenda

GBOS Report (Mike Edgington): Girdwood is now a designated secure trash regulation zone. Public comments regarding speeding on Crow Creek Road will become discussion regarding lowering speed limit on this DOT right-of-way. New policing contract negotiations are beginning. GBOS passed a Resolution of Support requested by GTC for KTMA Grant application. GBOS discussed drainage project on Hightower Road, and will continue this discussion with review of project cost at the meeting next week.

Title 21, Chapter 9 Review Committee (Mike Edgington): No report, group will meet again in September.

Girdwood Land Use Committee Meeting Agendas and minutes are available on line: http://www.muni.org/gbos

Housing Working Group (Mike Edgington): Impact of short term rental on Echo Ridge Drive will be a continuing conversation later in the LUC agenda.

Old Business:

Agenda Item LUC 1908-04: Alyeska Highway Pedestrian Safety Corridor Sweeps (Girdwood Alliance). Request LUC Recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support for DOT to apply for Alaska CTP funding to address design and safety concerns.

Krystal Hoke presents that there is approximately $50M nationwide in Community Transportation Program grants, and Alaska DOT is able to apply for funding for the State’s bike path right-of-way. 9% match for funds through grant program will be DOT responsibility.

Issues identified are: sweeps proximity to the roadway/angle of entry to the roadway/impingement on the shoulder; motorists driving on the bike path; glaciation/drainage issues. Design provided by DOT is different from the actual finished product. GVSA has offered to buy and paint stencils to designate the path as pedestrian, offer was declined by DOT as it is not within standard. GVSA also has offered to place removable bollards, which was also declined.

Trails Committee discussed and approved a similar motion.

Motion:

Girdwood Land Use Committee moves to recommend that the Girdwood Board of Supervisors write a Resolution of Support for Alaska DOT to apply for Alaska CTP funding to address design and safety concerns on the Alyeska Highway Pedestrian Safety Corridor sweeps.

Motion by Brenden Raymond-Yakoubian, 2nd by Carolyn Brodin
In favor 12, Opposed 0, Abstain 1

Motion carries

Agenda Item LUC 1907-04: 2nd presentation of proposal to rename the Girdwood Baseball Field in honor of Sladen Mohl. Group will seek LUC recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support (Betty Charnon, presenting)

Betty Charnon 2nd presentation. Sign and plaque to name the ball field.

Motion:

Girdwood Land Use Committee moves to recommend that the Girdwood Board of Supervisors write a Resolution of Support to rename the Girdwood Ball Field in honor of Sladen Mohl.

Motion by Robyn Kenny, 2nd by Kevin McDermott

In favor 14, Opposed 0, abstain 0

Agenda Item LUC 1907-05: Discussion of Short Term rental impacts on community (Echo Ridge Road).
Angela Carroll presents that Short term rental on Echo Ridge Road is creating neighbor issues. Parking on both sides of the road, blocking access of emergency vehicles, and impeding sanding and snow removal. Rampant speeding, impaired drivers. Prior to new trash requirements, trash has been concern. One property uses a property management company, others are self-managed. Issues have been brought to property-owners attention. Parking on site does not match beds sold, and people renting overnight space are likely in need of space to park. B&B’s have regulations and licenses to maintain. Nightly rentals otherwise do not have zoning requirements. Krystal Hoke suggests setting up Home Owners Association with rules for rentals and assess fines.
Whittier Police can currently enforce laws regarding parking in front of hydrants, blocking roadway, impaired driving.

Mike Edgington is working on this through Housing Working Group. Solution may be to extend the existing regulation on B&Bs to nightly rentals.

Immediately, GVSA will do the following:

Work on enforcement by WPD on parking and other enforceable issues.
Work with traffic dept at MOA to designate parking on one side of the road, instead of both, and add signage

Longer term, the community needs to determine what they want to do about short term rentals for GBOS to move through municipal code process.

Agenda Item LUC 1904-00: Request for LUC recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support for GVSA application for Alaska CTP grant funding for Arlberg paving and bike path improvements.

Repave section of paving that has not been done since original paving from T intersection to the hotel. Examine drainage culverts. Grant match through the GVSA capital account. Bike path has cracked and needs repaving.

Motion:

Girdwood Land Use Committee moves to recommend that the Girdwood Board of Supervisors write a Resolution of Support for GVSA to apply for Alaska CTP funding for Arlberg Road paving and Arberg bike path improvements.

Motion by Kevin McDermott, 2nd by Carolyn Brodin

In favor 11, opposed 0, abstain 1

Motion carries

New Business:

Agenda Item LUC 1908-04: Little Bears Playhouse, Inc initial presentation seeking LUC recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support for bonding package to rebuild daycare center in its current location.

For several years work has been ongoing to replace Little Bears Playhouse. Current structure and old fire hall/garage will be demolished.

Plan is to build a simple efficient community owned building, flat roof with natural light, security entrance, 2 dedicated classrooms, 1 flex room, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities that are up to code. Outdoor covered play area.
Challenges:
Setback requirements along Egloff Road. Variance will be sought for this, current design shows setbacks as required. Possible that the building may shift on the site if variance is successful.

Funding through bonding is current best solution, $2.2M total. Schematics drawn to help voters conceptualize. Value of bond is .24 mills, or $24 per $100,000 home value, annually for 20 years. Vote will be Areawide as Anchorage backs the bond, however only Girdwood taxpayers will pay for the building. There have been similar recent successful bonds recently.

Agenda Item LUC 1908-05: Discuss agenda topics for the GBOS/LUC Joint meeting, tentatively scheduled for MON Sept 16 at 6PM in the Girdwood Community Room.

Brian Burnett will be out Sept 16.

Discuss regulations for nightly rentals

Pending Business:

Agenda Item LUC 1905-05: Request for LUC recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support for change to T21C9 related to commercial parking requirements (Mike Edgington)

Agenda Item LUC 1905-06: Request for LUC recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support for Dimensional Variance request 159 Aspen Mountain Road (Kristian Sieling, presenting)

Agenda Item LUC 1906-04: Second presentation of Alyeska Nordic Spa project (Marco Zaccaro, Z Architects, presenting). Although not required, group is seeking LUC recommendation for GBOS Resolution of Support for the project to include in Major Site Plan Review packet. (Anticipated to return to agenda in September, 2019)

Request for GBOS/LUC Joint Meeting (1 of 2 in 2019): September 16, 2019 6PM

Adjourn 8:30PM