CityView Portal

try again!

We are sorry but no more comments are being taken for this case

Submitted comments will appear below after staff approval.
Anna Brawley	7/18/2021 5:21:18 PM
To the Planning and Zoning Commission and others, I am commenting on the set of actions related to the proposed snow disposal site for Connor's Bog area. I cannot attend the 7/19 public hearing, this email is in lieu of that. First, I support the comments of Turnagain Community Council concerns about use of this land for snow disposal, including impacts on wetlands and surrounding area, and the fact that this is already used as a designated as parkland in our plans. I support the request that the Muni consider any and all feasible mitigation to ensure that the chemicals and pollutants that will be in the snow kept at that site do not negatively impact the surrounding area, which is relevant for our hydrology, our wildlife, and people with pets who use that dog park. There are reasons why this land was designated as parkland in the first place, and is actively used as such. Specifically, I support the proposal to protect the remaining area with appropriate buffering, maintaining existing natural vegetation in that area, and dedicating the remaining area as Muni parkland to reflect its current and planned use. If these cannot be done in the current action, they should be a condition of approval of this action. Lastly, I have not been tracking this project closely throughout, I did read the feasibility study, and took note that basically the Airport had taken any options on their property off the table, whether or not they were feasible by any other measure. Even the suitability analysis, which did look for properties that are not wetlands, seemed to be overridden by the fact that whether or not the airport supported use of their property for this use was, in the end, the top criteria. This resulted in a different property that is high-value wetlands being chosen instead. It is unfortunate that the Muni and the Airport could not come to agreement about using the site that has been a snow disposal site for several years, which will result in another new (park) site being contaminated over time. I'm sure there are valid reasons for why we ended up in this place, but it also strikes me that the Muni and the Airport need to actively cooperate and compromise to find the best outcomes for all in the community, balancing economic development at the airport with long-term impacts and the surrounding residential areas. We all call Anchorage home, conflicts around these different uses will not go away, they need to be managed productively and with the long term in mind. Thank you for considering my comments, and for finding ways to ensure the many needs and land uses in our community are balanced appropriately. Respectfully, Anna Brawley Turnagain resident

Submitted comments will appear below after staff approval.

Anna Brawley

7/18/2021 5:21:18 PM

To the Planning and Zoning Commission and others, I am commenting on the set of actions related to the proposed snow disposal site for Connor's Bog area. I cannot attend the 7/19 public hearing, this email is in lieu of that. First, I support the comments of Turnagain Community Council concerns about use of this land for snow disposal, including impacts on wetlands and surrounding area, and the fact that this is already used as a designated as parkland in our plans. I support the request that the Muni consider any and all feasible mitigation to ensure that the chemicals and pollutants that will be in the snow kept at that site do not negatively impact the surrounding area, which is relevant for our hydrology, our wildlife, and people with pets who use that dog park. There are reasons why this land was designated as parkland in the first place, and is actively used as such. Specifically, I support the proposal to protect the remaining area with appropriate buffering, maintaining existing natural vegetation in that area, and dedicating the remaining area as Muni parkland to reflect its current and planned use. If these cannot be done in the current action, they should be a condition of approval of this action. Lastly, I have not been tracking this project closely throughout, I did read the feasibility study, and took note that basically the Airport had taken any options on their property off the table, whether or not they were feasible by any other measure. Even the suitability analysis, which did look for properties that are not wetlands, seemed to be overridden by the fact that whether or not the airport supported use of their property for this use was, in the end, the top criteria. This resulted in a different property that is high-value wetlands being chosen instead. It is unfortunate that the Muni and the Airport could not come to agreement about using the site that has been a snow disposal site for several years, which will result in another new (park) site being contaminated over time. I'm sure there are valid reasons for why we ended up in this place, but it also strikes me that the Muni and the Airport need to actively cooperate and compromise to find the best outcomes for all in the community, balancing economic development at the airport with long-term impacts and the surrounding residential areas. We all call Anchorage home, conflicts around these different uses will not go away, they need to be managed productively and with the long term in mind. Thank you for considering my comments, and for finding ways to ensure the many needs and land uses in our community are balanced appropriately. Respectfully, Anna Brawley Turnagain resident

CityView Portal

Municipality of Anchorage Official Web Site