Assembly continues work on multi-family re-write

PALMER — Efforts to re-write Mat-Su Borough codes regarding duplexes, apartment buildings and other multi-family housing have reached an ever-so-brief endpoint.

“They did pass it on Tuesday; however, we received a motion to reconsider from assembly member (Noel) Woods yesterday,” borough clerk Lonnie McKechnie wrote in an email.

Woods, she said, wishes to discuss a particular section of the code, specifically those having to do with restrictions on building heights.

As passed, the code prohibits buildings over 45 feet tall unless the builder gets an exception. The code McKechnie cited as causing Woods concern has to do with those exceptions.

The multi-family housing ordinance has had a somewhat contentious history at the assembly recently.

The rewrite began as a pair of competing ordinances. Assemblyman Vern Halter was proposing tightening regulations to avoid developments like the Mile 49 cabins, colloquially known as Felony Flats. Meanwhile, assemblyman Darcie Salmon wanted to remove the codes entirely, saying the move was aimed at alleviating a shortage of low-cost housing in the borough.

Halter said that the final version of the changes that passed Tuesday was a fine piece of legislation.

“I thought it was good,” he said. “The planning commission worked on it hard and long and reviewed it.”

He said it didn’t, however, alleviate all concerns about the Felony Flats issue. Halter said the code only deals with standard housing, meaning housing that, unlike the Mile 49 Cabins, provides septic, water and power.

The borough has a different section of code to deal with the so-called “sub-standard housing.” That kind of housing is something of a tricky issue for the borough. There’s plenty of it here; vacation cabins in the road-less areas of the borough. But it’s been tough to decide where that kind of housing is acceptable — a cabin in Skwentna, for example — and where it clearly is not — rental properties at the corner of Parks Highway and Pittman Road.

Halter said he’s not sure if borough staff or the planning commission is planning to take up the sub-standard housing issue.

“I think that’s an issue that should be and needs to be looked at,” Halter said.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.