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| Robert A French | 4/1/2020 7:59:02 AM |
| As a paraglider pilot, I am concerned about the heights and locations of possible buildings that may be built on this HLB parcel of land. Our flying site at Baldy and Landing Zone at the Harry McDonald Center offers some of the best flying available in the South Central Region, and having buildings that encroach on our landing area to the west and north of this parcel could impact our safely being able to land at the McDonald Center. Safety of our pilots is our main concern, and we feel that there could be mutual benefits to planning that puts any high structures well away from the area around the McDonald Center landing zone. Thanks for listening. | |
| Tyler Garnet | 3/31/2020 11:59:55 PM |
| Paragliders would like to continue to have access to a safe landing at the Harry Mac Center and to not be limited by physical infrastructure or administrative ordinance, associated with the location of future development of parcel 051-361-50. Regarding the development of parcel 051-361-50. In the "The Carol Creek Parcel - Land Use Plan", one of the objectives in this plan states: "[To] Retain and improve opportunities for access to open space, trails and other outdoor and indoor recreation amenities, for local residents and for visitors from outside the immediate neighborhood.” One of the current recreational activities that takes place nearby at the the Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center is paragliding. Paragliding is a non-motorized form of flight and in this case, trained and certified pilots launch from Mt Baldy and land at The Harry McDonald Center. This landing site is pivotal to the practice of paragliding in Alaska. The Arctic Air Walkers (the local paragliding chapter) have worked with the MOA to secure the Harry McDonald Center as a dedicated landing site. I request that any future development plans refrain from building any infrastructure (houses, power lines, tall buildings, permanent structures, etc) that may impeded the ability for paragliders to approach and land safely at the Harry McDonald Center. The area most specifically in questions is along Harry McDonald Drive, in tract 1 and tract 2, (For Reference, please see "Map 7 - Site Specific Land Use Plan for Carol Creek Parcel-2018"). I ask that you please take the above mentioned information into consideration, as development of the area moves forward. Please contact me, or the Arctic Air Walkers for clarification, or for any questions, regarding my comments. Thanks. | |
| Michael Remillard | 3/31/2020 10:05:10 PM |
| Dear Sirs, I would like to express my deep concern regarding the proposed development of parcel 051-361-50. It’s not clear to me what type of structure is being proposed, but a large building will hugely impact the recreation of many people in our community who regularly use that flight path for paragliding to the Harry J McDonald Center. Paragliding is not only a sport enjoyed by a couple hundred people in our community (Arctic Air Walkers membership is currently at 239), but it is also appreciated by many people in our community who delight in seeing paragliders in the sky. It adds to the ambiance of Eagle River—along with its immediate mountain access, ski trails, biking paths and trails, and many sports facilities. These aspects of our community make Eagle River a special and lively place to live. A large building on parcel 051-361-50 would endanger paragliders on their approach to the McDonald Center, and most likely shut down that activity altogether. I am therefore strongly opposed to commercial development of this parcel. If it goes forward, my hope is that the design of the building would take into account the current use of the area. Thank you very sincerely for considering my views. | |
| Andres Benitez | 3/31/2020 9:58:47 PM |
| As a member of the local paragliding community, I want to express my concerns towards the proposed development of parcel 051-361-50. While I do not object to development of the land, I have serious concerns as to how the proposed development will affect safe landing approaches to the McDonald Center Landing Zone (LZ). Multistory buildings, depending on size, can largely interfere with the landing approach, and inheirntly, a safe lanidng. For more than 30 continuous years, Eagle River has been Alaska’s premier paragliding site. No other site in Alaska can compare. Every year there are thousands of safe landings at the LZ. I ask that the municipality to strongly consider the impacts of building size and reach out to the paragliding community as development moves forward. Please help us preserve a SAFE landing area for the many people who live in or travel to our community for recreational paragliding. Feel free to contact me for additional information or clarification on my comment. Thank you! | |
| Jonathan Thomas | 3/31/2020 9:53:29 PM |
| My wife and I are members of the arctic air walkers paragliding club. We moved to Eagle River years ago to raise a family. A major draw for us to live in Eagle River was the pristine paragliding opportunities afforded by having the Harry Macdonald center as a landing zone. Our children have spent countless hours watching us fly and land at the Harry Macdonald center. My wife teaches at an Eagle River school and students love to watch paragliders take to the skies above their hometown. The Harry Macdonald center is the only safe landing zone for paragliders in the Eagle River area. Building adjacent to the Harry Macdonald center will compromise the safety of pilots and the future of flying in Eagle River. Eagle River has a rich hang gliding and paragliding history. It would be a shame to erase that history with tall buildings next to our landing zone. Please consider and consult with the paragliding community prior to approving buildings. Thank you. | |
| Rachel Newell | 3/31/2020 9:18:59 PM |
| As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club I have some concerns about the development of parcel 051-361-50. The Harry MacDonald Center is the only landing zone for paragliding off of Mt. Baldy. Baldy has been the premier paragliding site within the municipality for decades as it provides the safest and best access to paragliding within the MOA. Thousands of paragliding landings happen at the Harry MacDonald landing zone annually. It is a critical site for the paragliding community as it not only provides recreation, but a safe place for pilots to hone their skills. Buildings adjacent to the landing zone could easily compromise our safety as glide paths are obstructed and turbulence is increased. I ask that you take into consideration and consult the paragliding community in regards to any development. Thank you for your time. I | |
| Sean McIlvenna | 3/31/2020 8:57:48 PM |
| I am a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club. Having heard about the development planned for the parcel of land located to the east of the Harry MacDonald Center I am concerned about the impact it could have on our continued use of this site as the only viable landing zone in the area. There are numerous safety issues this development could create for us and has a very real possibility of eliminating our ability to fly here. Please reach out to our club and contact us in consideration of our long standing use of this site as this project moves through the approval process. Thanks you, Sean. | |
| Jeff Heuseveldt | 3/31/2020 8:09:30 PM |
| To whom it may concern: Please consider any impacts the proposed development of parcel 051-361-50 would have on nearby activities to include paragliding. As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club, I'm concerned that extensive development on this parcel would jeopardize our safety due to disrupted airflow from newly built structures to our landing zone at the Harry MacDonald field. Eagle River has been Alaska’s premier paragliding site for many years, offering a unique recreational activity that would be lost if the landing zone at the Harry MacDonald landing field is no longer usable due to adjacent development. Thanks for your consideration and time. | |
| Chad Winthrop | 3/31/2020 6:09:15 PM |
| Please carefully consider the development planned on Parcel 051-361-50. Development of this site could greatly disrupt the safe use of one of Alaska’s most precious paragliding sites. Securing the right to fly here was a collaborative effort of many parties, and has been maintained for decades. You may be surprised to learn that such a place is unique in in Southcentral Alaska and has greatly enriched the community. An opportunity for all parties to meet and understand each other’s needs may be challenged by our current need for social distancing, so we invite any questions to be directed to Alaska’s official paragliding organization, the Arctic Airwalkers. | |
| Frederick Roth | 3/31/2020 4:28:29 PM |
| As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club I have some concerns about the development of parcel 051-361-50. The Harry MacDonald Center is the only landing zone for paragliding off of Mt. Baldy. Baldy has been the premier paragliding site within the municipality for decades as it provides the safest and best access to paragliding within the MOA. Thousands of paragliding landings happen at the Harry MacDonald landing zone annually. It is a critical site for the paragliding community as it not only provides recreation, but a safe place for pilots to hone their skills. Buildings adjacent to the landing zone could easily compromise our safety as glide paths are obstructed and turbulence is increased. I ask that you take into consideration and consult the paragliding community in regards to any development. Thank you for your time. | |
| Kathy Young | 3/31/2020 4:07:41 PM |
| I am writing to express my concerns about the development of Parcel 051-361-50. As a paraglider, Eagle River is one of the best and the most easily accessible site South Central has to offer with a secure landing zone at the Harry MacDonald center. The parcel is on the final glide path to the landing zone and taller structures could create potentially unsafe landing conditions. As it stands there are no other alternative landing zones available year round. Please consider these concerns Sincerely Kathy Young | |
| Richard R Young | 3/31/2020 3:57:31 PM |
| As a 20 year member of the Arctic Airwalkers Paragliding club, I have concerns about the development of Parcel 051-361-50. Eagle River is one of the last easily accessible paragliding sites for the urban flyer with the Harry MacDonald center being being the only safe landing zone. I am concerned that any tall buildings on the approach to the landing zone would create turbulence and create unsafe landing conditions. I would hope that these concerns would be taken into consideration in the development of this area. Sincerely Rick Young | |
| Scott A Geuss | 3/31/2020 11:52:52 AM |
| I'm a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club I have some concerns about the development of parcel 051-361-50. Any structure on this parcel could potentially disrupt the normal approach to the Harry MacDonald landing zone creating hazardous conditions for pilots. The Harry Mac LZ has been in place for decades and is the only viable area to land for pilots launching from Baldy in Eagle River. Pilots from the MOA and Matsu valley would be seriously impacted by any development. I ask that you please solicit the opinions of the paragliding community in Alaska when considering any development plans. Thank you. | |
| MARK GEUSS | 3/31/2020 11:11:10 AM |
| As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club for the past decade I have some concerns about the development of parcel 051-361-50. The Harry MacDonald Center is the only landing zone for paragliding off of Mt. Baldy. Baldy has been the premier paragliding site within the municipality for decades as it provides the safest and best access to paragliding within the MOA. Thousands of paragliding landings happen at the Harry MacDonald landing zone annually. It is a critical site for the paragliding community as it not only provides recreation, but a safe place for pilots to hone their skills. Buildings adjacent to the landing zone could easily compromise our safety as glide paths are obstructed and turbulence is increased. I ask that you take into consideration and consult the paragliding community in regards to any development. Thank you for your time. | |
| Thai verzone | 3/31/2020 11:02:52 AM |
| As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club I have some concerns about the development of parcel 051-361-50. The Harry MacDonald Center is the only landing zone for paragliding off of Mt. Baldy. Baldy has been the premier paragliding site within the municipality for decades as it provides the safest and best access to paragliding within the MOA. Thousands of paragliding landings happen at the Harry MacDonald landing zone annually. It is a critical site for the paragliding community as it not only provides recreation, but a safe place for pilots to hone their skills. Buildings adjacent to the landing zone could easily compromise our safety as glide paths are obstructed and turbulence is increased. I ask that you take into consideration and consult the paragliding community in regards to any development. Thank you for your time.” | |
| Midnight Sun Paragliding | 3/31/2020 11:02:41 AM |
| Over a decade ago, the Arctic Air Walkers secured a dedicated landing zone (LZ) at the Harry MacDonald Center by working with the MOA. At present the Mt Baldy launch and the Harry MacDonald Center LZ comprise the most popular and arguably the safest paragliding site in the Anchorage area. Mount Baldy has been a primary free flight launch since the early 70s. Pilots have traveled the globe to fly here and many students have had their first flights from this site. We have work very hard as a club to maintain the safest landing possible for all pilots and this proposed development clearly compromises pilot safety. It is precious. As a Paragliding business owner, I am concerned that the development of parcel 051-361-50 may compromise the safety of the Harry MacDonald Center LZ, especially if the height of the proposed structures interrupts the typical west approach into the LZ. Note that there are no alternate landing zones for the Mt Baldy launch; the future of safe paragliding activities in the MOA is largely contingent on preserving the current approach to the Mac Center LZ. Thanks in advance for considering my concerns. Please contact me if you have any follow up questions. | |
| Nathaniel McClure | 3/31/2020 10:51:38 AM |
| As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club I have some concerns about the development of parcel 051-361-50. The Harry MacDonald Center is the only landing zone for paragliding off of Mt. Baldy. Baldy has been the premier paragliding site within the municipality for decades as it provides the safest and best access to paragliding within the MOA. Thousands of paragliding landings happen at the Harry MacDonald landing zone annually. It is a critical site for the paragliding community as it not only provides recreation, but a safe place for pilots to hone their skills. Buildings adjacent to the landing zone could easily compromise our safety as glide paths are obstructed and turbulence is increased. I ask that you take into consideration and consult the paragliding community in regards to any development. Thank you for your time. | |
| Nathaniel McClure | 3/31/2020 10:38:50 AM |
| As a member of the Arctic Air Walkers paragliding club I have some concerns regarding the development of parcel 051-361-50. The Harry McDonald Center provides our only landing zone for flying off of Mt Baldy. Baldy is the premier paragliding site within the municipality and has been for decades. Baldy is by far our most used and safest site for paragliding within the MOA, it is critical to keeping paraglider pilots current with their skill set. The construction of buildings adjacent to the Harry McDonald landing zone could easily compromise our ability for safe landing approaches. Buildings can potentially block glide paths and create turbulence within the established landing zone. I ask that you consult the paragliding community before moving forward with construction. I appreciate your time and please feel free to contact me for further input. Thank you. | |
| Brook Predeger | 3/31/2020 10:16:43 AM |
| To whom it may concern, I as many other long time community members and Paragliders are worried about the impact of this newly proposed building. For decades Eagle River and Mt Baldy has been known as the statewide hub for free flight. If a structure of magnitude is built this close to the Harry Macdonald Center Landing zone it will most definitely affect our ability to fly and land safely. Any mechanical rotor that close to an LZ is very dangerous not only for the paraglider, but for people in the building, in the parking lots, and around the general area. Please consider a lower profile structure in this area. Alaska is known for it beauty and wilderness and paragliding helps add to this allure. The arctic air walkers members across the state and especially Southcentral thank you for your time and consideration. | |
| Garret Scurr | 3/31/2020 10:08:57 AM |
| To whom it may concern: I am a paraglider with the "Arctic Air Walkers" paragliding club and I am concerned about our paragliding landing zone which is at the Harry McDonald Center. Your development plans for parcel 051-361-50 are to build just East of the Harry McDonald Center which is also the final glide path to the landing zone. The reason for this Easterly approach for landing is because the wind is predominately from the Northwest during the summer months when paragliding season is in full affect and paragliders have to land with the wind in their faces to slow down the descent and land safely. My concern is....If a building or buildings are too tall they can block our final approach for the landing zone. Eagle River is Alaskas premier paragliding flying site and AAW has been in contract with Harry McDonalds Center to use their property to land on for paragliding for many years. Please help us keep our site to enjoy our backyard. | |
| Scott Graves | 3/30/2020 9:17:41 PM |
| Hi, On page 21 of the 2018 Chugiak-Eagle River Site-Specific Land Use Plan there is a section for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space. As a paraglider who uses the Harry Mac center field and surrounding air space for recreation, I ask that you help preserve a SAFE landing area for the many people who live in or travel to Eagle River for recreational paragliding. As the report says, the grassed field provides a landing site from paragliders descending from Mt. Baldy. The surrounding air space is of great importance to safety. Please limit height and housing density in the Carol Creek Parcel surrounding the Mac. Kind regards, Scott | |
| Bryan Friedrichs | 3/30/2020 4:43:58 PM |
| The Arctic Air Walkers secured a dedicated landing zone (LZ) at the Harry MacDonald Center by working with the MOA. The Mt Baldy launch and the Harry MacDonald Center landing zone combine to create one of the safest and most accessible paragliding sites in Southcentral, Alaka. I am concerned that the development of parcel 051-361-50 may compromise the safety of this site. Tall structures will obstruct prevailing wind flow and create dangerous turbulence. If the Harry MacDonald LZ were to become compromised, there are no safe alternatives and the Mt. Baldy launch would become unusable. Thanks in advance for considering my concerns. Please contact me if you have any follow up questions. | |
| Paul Andrews | 3/30/2020 11:46:03 AM |
| Please consider strongly in your review of this re-zoning application and development approvals for Parcel 051-361-50 the existing designation of the Harry McDonald center as a paraglider landing zone. Paragliding from Mt Baldy is a popular year round activity in Eagle River and is enjoyed not only by the pilots but also by countless spectators (residents and visitors alike.) It is a unique site in the MOA but it requires relatively uninterrupted air flow in the area surrounding the landing field. Structures that are too high or give adsorb and then release too much heat (thermals) could make the field dangerous/unusable. Please feel free to contact me for additional information or clarification on my comment. Thank you. | |
| Joshua Mulkey | 3/30/2020 10:42:33 AM |
| Over a decade ago, the Arctic Air Walkers secured a dedicated landing zone (LZ) at the Harry MacDonald Center by working with the MOA. At present the Mt Baldy launch and the Harry MacDonald Center LZ comprise the most popular and arguably the safest paragliding site in the Anchorage area. I am concerned that the development of parcel 051-361-50 may compromise the safety of the Harry MacDonald Center LZ, especially if the height of the proposed structures interrupts the typical west approach into the LZ. Note that there are no alternate landing zones for the Mt Baldy launch; the future of safe paragliding activities in the MOA is largely contingent on preserving the current approach to the Mac Center LZ. Thanks in advance for considering my concerns. Please contact me if you have any follow up questions. | |
| Adrian Beebee | 3/29/2020 1:59:27 PM |
| The development of Parcel 051-361-50 should take into account the flight path of paragliders landing at the McDonald Center Landing Zone. Multistory buildings built too high and too close to the McDonald Center could make the LZ unusable and end thirty years of paragliders flying off of Mt. Baldy, Alaska's most popular paragliding site. | |
| Chris Reynolds | 3/29/2020 1:47:17 PM |
| Dear sirs I am a paraglider with the "Arctic Air Walkers" paragliding club and I am concerned about our paragliding landing zone which is at the Harry McDonald Center. Your development plans for parcel 051-361-50 are to build just East of the Harry McDonald Center which is also the final glide path to the landing zone. The reason for this Easterly approach for landing is because the wind is predominately from the Northwest during the summer months when paragliding season is in full affect and paragliders have to land with the wind in their faces to slow down the descent and land safely. My concern is....If a building or buildings are too tall they can block our final approach for the landing zone. Eagle River is Alaskas premier paragliding flying site and AAW has been in contract with Harry McDonalds Center to use their property to land on for paragliding for many years. Please contact Arctic Air Walkers | Fight Gravitywww.arcticairwalkers.com for more information on this concern. | |
| Michael Brown | 3/29/2020 12:04:56 PM |
| I am concerned about the development of Parcel 051-361-50 and the potential impact it could have on paragliding in Eagle River. I have been paragliding in Eagle River and utilizing the Harry Mac landing zone for the past 10 years and other's have for over 30 years. I am concerned that future development will interfere with the flight path into the Harry Mac landing zone. Eagle River has been the most popular site for paragliding in Alaska for many years. Paragliding has become part of the fabric of Alaska and any future developments should take into consideration the negative impact they could impose on the sport. | |
| Bill | 3/19/2020 2:37:13 PM |
| While I do not have a blanket objection to the development on Parcel 051-361-50, I do have serious concerns as to how it will affect safe landing approaches to the McDonald Center Landing Zone (LZ). For more than 30 continuous years, Eagle River has been Alaska’s premier paragliding site. No other site in Alaska can compare. Every year there are thousands of safe landings at the LZ. Without the safe use of the LZ, paragliding in Alaska will effectively end. Part of flying safety is having reasonable landing approaches. It is possible that multiple story buildings, if built too high, would affect the safe decent into the LZ. Since there is no description of the envisioned buildings, I cannot comment on whether they would impinge on safe glide angles to the LZ. Never the less, it needs to be strongly considered prior to any development of the area. | |