Hooray for community action -- get involved or be left out

Frontiersman editorial board

The Mat-Su Borough recently passed an ordinance setting in place standards regulating the development of coal-bed methane -- a process that was started because community residents demanded protection.

The expansion of Knik-Goose Bay Road and its accompanying bike path was recently completed, with residents' concerns about graves in the area and trail-alignment needs of mushers addressed and incorporated into the construction.

The Lazy Mountain community recently joined the ranks of numerous other communities around the borough, by beginning its own planning effort, with an eye to keeping the community as it is, without cutting off future development.

Mat-Su is growing at a rapid pace, with no signs of stopping as long as good land and affordable housing remain available. It's refreshing to see a rising tide of community responsibility taking place.

More and more people are getting involved in shaping the future of their communities, whether it's as simple as requesting a small realignment of a trail to accommodate more users or as complex as setting in place the vision for a diverse community.

Growth and all that goes along with it will continue to be a fact of life for Mat-Su residents, and it's increasingly important that everyone in the community get involved in the process.

Getting involved doesn't necessarily mean hauling out picket signs or testifying at public meetings -- although that may be called for in some cases.

It can be as simple as letting a developer or a business know you support their efforts to grow within the community, or taking a few moments to find out more about a project going on in your neighborhood.

Whether you're in favor of growth at any cost, would like to see a few rules put in place governing growth, or would like to see the community compartmentalized into neat areas of commercial and residential property, having a seat at the table means getting involved at a basic level.

Talk to your community council to find out what's going on in your area. Meet your assembly member or city council members and find out about issues facing your neighborhood. Talk to those seeking to represent you in the Alaska Legislature and find out their vision for the area.

This is a community that's developing and extending its roots, and the people who take part in that process today are going to be the real shapers and leaders of the Valley's future.