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| Submitted comments will appear below after staff approval. | |
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| Kelly frick | 11/28/2014 3:31:41 PM |
| For a decade I worked in Portage Valley as a USFS interpreter at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center.I've spoke to thousands of visitors while giving programs, leading hikes and managing the center. Visitors from Alaska & around the globe appreciate the undisturbed wildness of the Portage Valley. This pleasant, natural experience starts at the head of the Valley, the turnoff and at the exact spot where Atlas Towers is anxious to erect their tall tower. The tower has no place in this scenic valley. The Atlas Tower was once rejected by the planning & zoning board last spring as the board shared these same concerns. It is shocking that Atlas has the audacity to suggest the same site twice. There are alternative sites that would work perfectly. When Atlas Towers choose a site Atlas only consideration is profit. They build unsightly towers all over the country ruining the landscape for all of us who live here and came here years ago to escape the pollution that Atlas is determined to create. Thank for allowing me this opportunity to voice my concerns. | |
| Z Architects | 11/20/2014 12:02:56 PM |
| Dear Administrative Site Plan Review Committee, We are writing in opposition to the installation of the Atlas Tower project in Portage Valley. We have worked for years with the AWCC to help create an aesthetic and unique Alaskan experience for visitors to the beautiful Portage Valley area. Installing a 95 foot cell phone tower at this particular location creates an eyesore that distracts from the surrounding natural landscape and will detract from the overall visitor experience. While the need for increased cell coverage in the area is supported, we believe there are better sites for the tower that would result in the same effect. As suggested in other comments, locating the tower in an area that is already industrialized, such as the zone near the Alaska Railroad, appears to be a better option that will not take away from the beauty of the entrance to Portage Valley or the clean and unobtrusive aesthetic of the AWCC. | |
| Steve Mendive | 11/20/2014 1:50:41 AM |
| Dear members of the planning and zoning committee, On behalf of the members of the community council and residents of Portage Valley, we submit our opposition to the instillation of the 95 foot Atlas Tower project. It is the position of the community based on the information provided by Atlas Tower that a complete review of all available site has not been completed. Portage Valley has several zoned industrial sites that meet the intentions of this tower instillation. Atlas Tower indicated during public meeting in Girdwood, to this body, that this current site location would not improve cellular service to the turnagain pass area. Currently there are acceptable tower instillation sites closer to the industrial zoned area near the Alaska Railroad. That would be equal to or better than the proposed site. The Portage Valley Community Council has works closely with community business members, the USFS and residents to meet all signage and National Scenic Byway standards in an effort to preserve our roadway site lines. Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm Natural Heritage Area has invested in several projects to preserve this area and attract and inform Alaskans and our visitors. In addition this area is under review of a very comprehensive design and relocation of the Seward Hwy. This site falls right inline with the path of one of the proposed options. Approval of this site has the potential to limit the options avail to following the best long-term track for the Seward Hwy realignment. We recognize the importance of cellular infrastructure and are not in opposition to the need for improving Alaska’s services. With several optional sites available that would not impact the apex of the three valleys area of 20 mile, Portage and Placer. We encourage to review and approve placing this type of utility in the zoned industrial area of Portage Valley further to the west and incorporating industrial development closer to the existing facilities. This consolidation of facilities would allow for the best future development of Portage Valley and Seward Hwy while preserving the fantastic beauty of this portion of the Municipality of Anchorage. | |
| George Miller | 11/19/2014 8:28:51 PM |
| We appreciate Atlas Tower approaching the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with the proposal to erect a 90 foot cell tower on our property in Portage. Income is always a motivating consideration. AWCC declined the offer because the income was not worth the visual obstruction of a 90 foot cell tower. We were concerned also about the controversial negative health effects of the cell waves. In our discussions it was mentioned that if an agreement with Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center could not be reached Atlas Tower would then erect the structure adjacent to the wildlife center on the Tide Water Café property. Atlas Towers talked to the owner of this property Brian Choe. Brian was not concerned about the visual pollution. He is interested in the monetary gain. The application suggest erecting this tall cell tower at the gateway to scenic and recreationally designated, Portage Valley, the Prince William Sound and the entire Kenai Peninsula . If erected this eyesore will be clearly visible to the vast majority of all visitors to Alaska. Over 3 million people will pass it annually as the Cruise Ships disembark in both Seward and Whittier. Cell Towers, bill boards, windmills and other sources of visual pollution is what visitors come to Alaska to escape. Visitors and we Alaskan appreciate the vast unbroken scenic landscape of this last frontier. The Seward Highway from Anchorage to Seward is one of the top 5 scenic highways in North America. I ask you to consider what the tall Cell Tower will do to this honorable designation that we have all worked so hard to achieve. In 2005 Alaska legislators enacted a no private business sign law for the Scenic By Way Seward Highway from Anchorage to Seward. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and all businesses for this 126 mile stretch of highway willingly removed their business signs in accordance of this law. Removal of these signs created a better scenic highway for all of us today and for generations to come. In 2004 Chugach Electric identified Portage as a potential source for electrical power through the use of erected windmill towers. The Portage Community, Alaska Tourism Industry and environmentally concerned citizens and groups expressed the same visual concerns that we now have with the Cell Tower. Chugach Electric understood the trade off and withdrew their proposal. The windmill towers were erected on Fire Island just as this cell tower has other options. They will find a location if this application is denied. That what we hope as it will satisfy them and all of us. We appreciate Atlas Tower’s interest to provide us with providing better cell service but we are all perfectly satisfied with our present service. . Alaska Tourism is a wonderful environmentally clean, self sustaining industry. Visitors come to Alaska because the rest of the North American continent had been over developed, altered, polluted and has lost all scenic and wilderness value and appeal. We all ask you to help preserve Alaska and most importantly Portage Valley. Please we ask you to consider what will be lost forever if the cell tower is erected. Thank you for your consideration George Miller | |
| Pat Athey | 11/13/2014 4:33:54 PM |
| Please approve this project. Cell phone service is critical in emergencies, which occur regularly along the Seward Highway. The applicant has provided adequate information to assure us the location is appropriate and compliant. Thank you. | |