Lazy Mountain begins planning process

LAZY MOUNTAIN -- Plans to plan are under way in Lazy Mountain.

Community members agreed Thursday to begin the process of developing a community plan for the council area, a process that has been turned down twice previously.

Nearly 100 people turned out to hear information about a community plan presented at a Thursday evening meeting at the Lazy Mountain Bible Church, where the community council meets. While planning efforts previously have met with opposition, the group that gathered Thursday agreed by a hand vote of 52 to 17 to begin a process that may take between one to two years to finish.

Lazy Mountain is part of a growing trend among communities within the Mat-Su. The borough's northern communities, such as Trapper Creek, the "Y" and Meadow Lakes, have recently begun community-planning efforts, according to Mat-Su Borough planner Eileen Probasco.

The borough assembly recently approved special land use district plans, or SPUDs, which place regulations for community plans into borough code. It's a process that, in Talkeetna's case, took more than 10 years.

Several who spoke at the meeting Thursday discussed recent events that took place in the community that have raised concerns about future development.

Most recently, concerns that coal-bed methane development would take place within their neighborhoods caused many Lazy Mountain community residents to rethink planning issues. A few years ago, a group home proposed for troubled teens led community residents to testify at borough assembly meetings in hopes of halting the plans.

"We're here because we're afraid -- we're afraid that if we don't act, a government that is not invested is going to act on our behalf," one community member said. "What little we have in this world is in that ground, or on it … I picked this mountain to live on, I picked my neighbors and I like it the way it is."

Some community members believe planning for future growth could be a way to ease community members' minds.

"A community plan is an opportunity to discuss how we can plan and how we want to grow, rather than not plan and let someone else decide," Lazy Mountain Community Council board member Will Peabody told the group.

Others at Thursday's meeting said they were concerned that a community plan would become a way for those most interested in enacting strict regulations to keep development out, and that it would lead to division in the community.

"What we need to be aware of, if we start this tonight, is we're going to have to be very involved for a year," Larry DeVilbiss said. "What generally seems to happen is, people who have got the most active interest in seeing things restricted are the most involved. I think you give up something very fundamental when you start restricting more than it already is."

Carl Clark said he was concerned that the planning effort would divide the community, which is known for its neighborhood feel.

An effort several years ago to extend a road near the intersection of Clark and Wolverine roads led to divisions within the community that are still felt today, Clark said. After that disagreement, residents of one subdivision on Lazy Mountain have refused to take part in community activities, and have since not attended council meetings.

Mary Rose Clark, Carl's wife, said she's concerned that the regulations may stop future growth and change on the mountain -- and that they could hinder future residents.

"I try very hard not to get an 'I've got mine and nobody can get theirs' attitude," she said. "It was our dream, to come to Alaska."

At Thursday's meeting, community members expressed concern that voting to begin the planning process would set them on an inevitable course toward adopting planning regulations for their community.

Probasco said the process depends on public participation, and community members will have a chance to vote on it before it moves forward to the borough planning commission and assembly.

"We try, during the whole process, to have a series of opportunities -- to have open houses, and we have surveys we mail out," Probasco said. She added that, as a part of the planning process, between six and 15 people must agree to serve as contact points for both the borough and community members. More can serve on the planning team, she said -- the "Y" community has more than 20 points of contact.

The borough must advertise a request for applications to be on the planning team, Probasco said, and she's set a deadline for applications to be in by Dec. 31.

After planning team applications are taken, they'll be reviewed by the Lazy Mountain Community Council and approved by the borough planning commission. Probasco estimated work on the community plan would begin early next year. For more information about the process, or to get involved, contact Probasco at 746-7431.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.