So … what's the plan?

Northern View, by Jodi Snyder

As I started putting together stories for this issue of Mat-Su North, I didn't realize there was going to be so much information about the various development plans making news in the northern communities. But this week was full of meetings, all touching at one point or another on "community planning."

On Monday, I attended the Willow Area Community Organization annual meeting and election of officers. One topic of discussion at the meeting was the need to secure additional "community use" lands in the area. Local residents have long been saying we need to plan for the future, and this would certainly be an appropriate item to include in such a plan.

The next evening, I drove to Talkeetna for the Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting. Along with many Talkeetna residents, I got to witness the passing of ordinances adopting two great plans for the area -- one for the Talkeetna Lakes Recreation Area, the other for the Talkeetna Riverfront Park. These plans reflect some time-consuming, tedious work by Talkeetnans, borough staff and independent consultants.

On Wednesday, I attended a Big Lake Chamber meeting where Mat-Su Borough Recreation Services Director Linda Brenner and outdoor recreation specialist Warren Templin discussed the Jordan Lake Parcel Master Plan. The Jordan Lake parcel is a 44-acre piece of land in the core area of Big Lake where the community is developing a natural habitat area that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Thursday morning, I spoke with Tom Kluberton up in Sunshine about the Y Community's efforts to create a comprehensive plan for their area. They will be hosting a second set of workshops next week to continue working toward a plan, and Tom wanted to spread the word. This is a smallish community, even by our borough standards, yet here they are, organized and ready to get to work.

These plans, in various stages of completion and approval, are all impressive. Put together by local residents who really care about their neighborhoods, assisted by experienced consultants and borough staff who helped them shape their ideas into something more tangible, these documents will be used to help guide the growth of their communities.

There have long been remarks by area residents that we don't need "official" plans for our communities. But many, now facing issues like coal-bed methane development and rapid growth in their communities, are starting to jump on the bandwagon, thinking that an official plan endorsed by the local government might not be a bad idea.

As these different plans are approved, those who drafted them must be relieved. But what happens next? It appears these dedicated residents will simply regroup and focus on the next step. Volunteers, borough staff, consultants will all continue their work to further plan, to secure funding, to build trails, plant trees, to pick weeds if required -- whatever it takes to accomplish their goals as one arduous process ends and the "real" work begins.

At the meeting in Talkeetna, I noticed that by participating in the planning process, these people had really strengthened their sense of community. And by working through their differences regarding recreation, economic development, and land use, they found a way to secure a comfortable direction for the future of their town. By being such strong stewards of their growing communities, they are making the Mat-Su Borough nicer for all of us, and for future generations.

Jodi Snyder writes stories for the northern Mat-Su area.