Plan raises doubt

Shadowood developer has new proposal

July 4, 2006

BY MARY AMES/Frontiersman

The Anchorage developer who unsuccessfully proposed high-density housing in Wasilla last year has a new proposal before the Mat-Su Borough Platting Board for the same area.

A new proposal from Ken Duffus consists, so far, of three single-family dwellings in the same location as the expansion of Shadowood subdivision was planned. The development even has a new name, Emerald Estates. And the neighbors who successfully rallied against Shadowood because it violated Wasilla's rural density standards are thinking it might be deja vu all over again.

The borough platting board at first approved Shadowood because the city's planning commission gave the development a pass with no comment. It took neighborhood activism to get the platting board to reconsider - and ultimately reject - Shadowood.

Now the platting board is scheduled to review and approve, or postpone approval of, Duffus's proposal for Emerald Estates on Thursday, ahead of Wasilla's planning commission's review on July 11.

Dianne Woodruff, whose home abuts the proposed development, has reservations about the procedure. Her concern is with the sequence of events, she said. The planning commission should have the first review of the plans to ascertain whether they meet city code before the platting board grants approval.

Woodruff has been going door to door in the neighborhood again, asking people to voice their concerns to the platting board and planning commission.

Thursday's platting board will meet at Central Mat-Su Fire Station on Lucille Street in Wasilla, instead of at the borough building. The board is scheduled to meet all day, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

The preliminary plan submitted said grassy ditches will contain water drainage from the developed lots, but Woodruff is concerned about the six lots, past the roadway, that may drain onto her property.

&#8220It may be an issue,” Woodruff said. &#8220But he says no buffering is needed.”

Written comment had to be in by 3 p.m. Thursday, Woodruff said.

The board could make a recommendation to postpone a decision until July 20, but there is no guarantee, Woodruff said.

&#8220It's important for people to come because (the board has) the option to not continue if they choose,” Woodruff said. &#8220We hope they will.”

Other than the three single-family houses, Duffus has not filed for permits for building on the rest of the lots.

Contact Mary Ames at

352-2284 or mary.ames@

frontiersman.com.