Borough planning for parks

MAT-SU — Faced with nothing but support for the plans, the Mat-Su Borough Assembly voted 5-2 March 4 to institute plans for three of its most popular recreation areas.

Crevasse Moraine, Lazy Mountain and Matanuska River Park all now have comprehensive plans to guide their respective futures.

Ed Kessler with Valley Mountain Bikers and Hikers Association described the plan as the start of a “transformation for the Mat-Su, making our vision of a Mat-Su trail Mecca a reality.”

Dan Monarch, a resident of a subdivision near the main access to Crevasse Moraine on France Road, warned the assembly that the road couldn’t handle much more traffic and the borough should take a serious look at adding another access route.

“I would agree with your assessment,” borough manager John Moosey said when Assemblyman Matthew Beck repeated Monarch’s concerns. “We have very many situations where we have one road in and one road out.”

He said connecting roads in the area to create another access onto the Palmer-Wasilla Highway is on the borough’s radar, but there isn’t yet funding for such a plan.

Assemblyman Jim Colver added language to the resolution adopting the Matanuska River Comprehensive Plan, making explicit that the plan doesn’t apply to land the borough bought between the park and nearby Academy Charter School.

The main voice of opposition came from Assemblyman Ron Arvin.

“I would be interested to learn really what the public process was and how many people are intimately aware that there’s another 1,300 acres of borough property that is being designated as non-motorized,” Arvin said.

When it was explained that dozens of people attended meetings setting up the comp plans, Arvin pointed out there are 100,000 people in the borough.

“I can’t support chopping up these lands for specific uses when I don’t feel that it was vetted,” he said.

Assemblyman Vern Halter, who said he goes out on motorized trips more often than he does non-motorized, said he supports the plans anyway.

“Crevasse Moraine has always been a hiking and skiing system and has been from day one,” he said.

Colligan said that he didn’t like the idea of groups competing to lock each other out. He called that kind of special interest lobbying “disgusting.”

“It’s not fun to sit here and listen to both sides just shoot at each other and not be very supportive of each other’s particular use,” he said.

He said he’d vote for this one, but wants to see user groups come together.

In the end, the measure passed with Arvin and Assemblyman Darcie Salmon voting in opposition.

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

Should the borough adopt comprehensive plans for Crevasse Moraine, Lazy Mountain and Matanuska River Park?

Ron Arvin: No

Matthew Beck: Yes

Steve Colligan: Yes

Jim Colver: Yes

Vern Halter: Yes

Darcie Salmon: No

Jim Sykes: Yes