Mat-Su Assembly to take up water body setbacks in early January, members decide

The Matanuska Borough assembly will again take up the setting of new rules for building setbacks from water bodies to preserve water quality in early January, assembly members decided at its Dec. 2 meeting. The question has been kicked back and forth between the assembly and the planning and zoning commission, but borough manager Mike Brown said he is hoping for a final decision.

The matter involves residential and commercial buildings proposed near lakes and streams as well as what can be done, if anything, about a number of structures built too close to water bodies, which raises concerns for contamination. A regular assembly meeting on Dec. 16 had originally been proposed to take up the matter but some members will be traveling, so the proposal is now scheduled for the first or second regular assembly meeting in January, it was decided.

On other matters, public hearings by the assembly were also set for Dec. 16 on Ordinance 25-102, changing subdivision development standards to allow lots of 30,000 square feet to be developed in single-family residential land use districts, and borough Resolution 25-114, approving changes to borough service rates and fees to take effect July 1, 2026.

Meanwhile, a number of routine administrative actions were also taken up and approved by the assembly on Dec. 2.

A repair and renovation project to repair damaged exterior siding at Iditarod Elementary School was approved with no objection with $1 million reappropriated from the borough’s renovation fund.

The exterior siding, known as “cladding” is deteriorating and creating a safety issue. Until repairs can be made the damaged areas are cordoned off. The action was in Ordinance 25-130.

A bid of $187,944 by Premier Mechanical LLC was approved to install seismic isolation gas valves at school district facilities. This is a step to increase safety n the event of an earthquake.

Kinney Engineering was granted an extension to Dec. 31, 2026 to complete the 49th Street Pathway Project, while AAA Valley Gravel LLC received an extension of its contract for work on the Point Mackenzie road construction to July 31, 2026.

The borough manager was authorized to submit an application to the state Department of Natural Resources to acquire or lease state-owned land for development of a new trailhead facility for the Matanuska Peak and McRoberts Creek trails.

The assembly was informed of the completion of a $1.93 million contract by Neeser Construction Inc. for the Smith Road extension upgrade and pathway project. Assembly members were also given information on submittal of a grant application to the Alaska Federal Lands Access Program by the borough for pathway paving along the East Knik River road and Old Glenn Highway.