Gravel ordinance stalls

MAT-SU — The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission could not reach a consensus on an advisory vote over the proposed Valley-wide gravel ordinance at its meeting Monday.

The commission had a deadline of Nov. 2 to make their recommendation on the comprehensive earth materials extraction ordinance. The final meeting before this deadline, Monday was the last chance for this recommendation before the ordinance goes to the borough assembly.

With one commissioner no longer serving after being elected to the assembly, another who recused himself from the gravel discussions, and a third out of town, only four commissioners were in attendance at the meeting. Four votes are required to pass a resolution, and the commissioners were deadlocked at three votes to one in favor of passing the ordinance and proposed amendments on to the assembly.

The planning commission did pass a resolution asking the assembly to delay action on the ordinance until Dec. 1. This would give the commission another opportunity to discuss the matter when one additional commissioner could be in attendance.

The assembly now has two options. It can grant the planning commission the extension, or it can take the ordinance up without the commission’s recommendations.