Concerned about a community divided

On Sept. 8, some 160 residents belonging to the Buffalo Mine Soapstone community gathered at the Mat-Su Borough gymnasium for a community council meeting. The main agenda item was the area’s comprehensive plan.

Community Council President Jennifer Charvet and Borough Planner Lauren Kruer were to provide interested residents with background information related to the document.

This didn’t happen. Instead, at the start of the meeting, one resident immediately leapt out of her chair and made a motion to “quash the comp plan.” Her motion was immediately seconded. The meeting then continued with those opposed to the plan making their sentiments known. For the next hour-and-a-half they stomped their feet, made cat calls and in loud voices let it be known that they were opposed to talking about the plan. The view of the majority was let’s kill this thing before we learn what it contains.

It was a sad evening indeed, especially for those who for the past three years had worked so hard to craft this document. The draft does not, as some believed, state that residents should limit their number of dogs to two, let ATVers put trails through their land or propose that zoning ordinances immediately be put into effect. Rather, the document contains several recommendations that were listed under chapter headers titled “Green Infrastructure,” “Economic Development,” “Land Use,” “Emergency Preparedness,” “Area Trails” and “Local Governance.”

The woman who initially made the motion stated that because listed comprehensive plan meetings were not advertised, that the plan was invalid. I, the original lead team planner, explained that her information was incorrect; all comp plan meetings were advertised. I added that Kruer put notices in the Frontiersman and Charvet sent emails out to those who attended community council meetings.

In addition, prior to all meetings signs were posted at both the Buffalo Mine and Soapstone Road intersections. I also attempted to go residence-to-residence on Soapstone Road, but gave up after having doors repeatedly slammed in my face.

I also said that as importantly, a comprehensive plan survey was sent by snail mail to all Buffalo Mine Soapstone community members and added that Charvet sent out a follow-up email, reminding residents to fill out and send responses back to the borough office. Furthermore, the received responses were the plan’s backbone.

As I sat watching my neighbors, I recalled what it was like being a journalist on the East Coast. People were pleasant to one another, even when talking about the most contentious issues, such as building a proposed power plant in Seabrook, N.H. If there’s such a thing as informal meeting protocol, it was violated on the evening of Sept. 8. Civility, common courtesy and respect for one’s neighbors were, at that moment in time, nonexistent.

After the meeting, those of us who worked so incredibly hard on this document were left to wonder about the high degree of hostility on the part of our neighbors. Why wouldn’t they allow us to put forth an overview of the plan? Did they fear that if they took note, their preconceptions might be quashed? Or did their expressed outrage have something to do with the fact that the proposed comprehensive plan might identify the Buffalo Mine-Soapstone area as a residential neighborhood and therefore make putting a proposed coal mine in our backyard more difficult, if not impossible? We don’t know. We are mystified.

We are now also a neighborhood divided. A case in point: this evening, while heading down Soapstone Road (I was taking a load of horse manure to a friend) I saw a bright pink sign at the base of the road. It read, “Thanks to all community members who abolished the comp plan.” Reading this, I felt both sadness and remorse, for the antagonistic attitude continues. So much for community betterment and cohesion. Should anyone be interested in taking a look at our plan, it can be found on the borough website.

Alys Culhane is a freelance writer who lives in the Buffalo Mine area.