Colberg praised for trying to balance commission

I must commend Mat-Su Borough Mayor Tails Colberg for trying to fill the vacancies on the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission with residents of the borough who are not members of Friends of Mat-Su. Mayor Colberg sees the need for opposing viewpoints on the Planning Commission, but all of his recommended appointments did not get approved by the borough assembly because the majority of the assembly is controlled by the FoMS.

FoMS don’t want any opposing ideas on the Planning Commission and want total control of the Planning Commission. Mayor Colberg has publicly stated that if they will allow one of his choices he would let them have the other two vacant seats. He even showed his good faith by reappointing Patrick Johnson to the Planning Commission seat from Assembly District 4, who was an individual the FoMS supported.

Mayor Colberg has brought forward for the Planning Commission seats Gary Foster from Assembly District 1, Jim Norcross and Ted Berry from Assembly District 7, all of whom have not been confirmed by the assembly because they were not in lockstep with their beliefs with the FoMS.

Last night (March 2), I was the latest casualty of this battle with the FoMS-controlled assembly. Mayor Colberg had put my name forward to fill the vacant Planning Commission seat from Assembly District 1, and since I have a differing viewpoint of the direction that our Mat-Su Borough is taking, I was not confirmed by the assembly.

The assembly members voting for my confirmation were Ron Arvin, Mark Ewing and Vern Halter. The assembly members voting against my confirmation to the Planning Commission were Lynne Woods, Pete Houston, Cindy Bettine and Jim Colver.

I believe all boards and commissions should have balance and differing viewpoints to produce better decisions and reach compromises on plans, ordinances, rules and regulations to better align with the majority of taxpayers.

My professional background in surveying and civil engineering, subdivision planning design and knowledge of local planning issues would have been a great asset to the Planning Commission. This is precisely why myself and the three others mentioned above were not seated, because we might bring opposing viewpoints and new ideas to the issues brought before the Planning Commission.

The continual erosion of private property rights being pushed by the FoMS will lead to additional “permission” for building on your private property, with a borough staff member choosing for you if what and where you build is desired or allowed by their plans (mandatory land use permits). There will be additional permitting fees, impact fees, etc. Fees upon fees will ultimately mean it will be exorbitantly expensive to build a home. Will our children and grandchildren be able to afford to have a home and yard of their own to raise their families?

Planning is an important aspect of the borough, but it needs to be a plan the majority of the residents would like, not one forced upon us by one narrow-minded special interest, anti-growth group.

Mayor Colberg needs to be commended for continually trying to seat residents willing to serve on the Planning Commission with open minds and opposing viewpoints to the FoMS.

What can you do as a taxpayer and voter? You can vote for the assembly person who is not supported by the FoMS. Find out which candidates are supported by FoMS and vote for the other person.

This fall, Lynne Woods’ and Pete Houston’s seats will be up for election. Please vote for change. Most importantly, get out and vote.

Pio Cottini is a lifelong Palmer resident.