Palmer, Wasillawant to growwith annexation

Houston has the unique status as the largest city per square mile in the borough, but the smallest population.

On the other hand, Palmer and Wasilla have more population with less land. Both cities hope to change that in the future by annexing land adjacent to their boundaries.

Palmer tried and failed to annex ground a few of years ago. Residents nearby weren’t convinced being within city limits would improve their lot much. And that’s the sales job both cities will face again.

Why would someone who lives in unincorporated areas want to live in a city?

First, police services might be one reason. But the annexees might say they’re fine with state trooper responses.

Another reason is sewer and water. Outlanders will say they’re plenty happy with their well and septic.

The cities may tout better road and street maintenance. That’s a point that might hit a mark for people who have moved here and found 2-wheel-drive vehicles can’t overcome snow drifts. Having plowed streets would be nice when the snow falls deep.

So the cities have an uphill battle in convincing nearby neighbors that they will get what they’re paying for and more.

Wasilla has a little more than 13 acres for about 7,000 people. The Census Bureau says Palmer is 3.8 square miles with an estimated population of 8,000. That last number seems pretty high, but the point is, Palmer is the more densely populated of the three cities.

The reason the cities want to expand, obviously, is to expand their tax bases. In Palmer’s case, it’s starting to mirror Anchorage in the sense that it just doesn’t have that much land left to house businesses or other entities.

Wasilla, as almost anyone can see, is becoming a crowded place, and with no property taxes, it is a haven for more business. Thus, Wasilla wants land to put them. The city also wants to bring in already existing businesses. Wasilla’s plan would more than double its existing land mass to include east to Seward-Meridian Parkway and the growing commerce there.

Palmer isn’t as firm in its plans right now, preferring to be better organized than its last attempt to grow.

Before all this growing is done, some of the Valley’s younger folks will see Wasilla’s east city limits and Palmer’s west city limits each on one side of the same post in the middle of Trunk Road.