State green-lights Wasilla annexation

WASILLA — The city and surrounding area boast the fastest growing population center in Alaska. And a recent decision by the state’s Local Boundary Commission has the city increasing in landmass as well.

The commission announced earlier this month that it has granted a request to annex 76.6 acres — all held by the same owner — into the city. The unanimous vote extends Wasilla’s boundary west along the Parks Highway to just past Denali Family Restaurant, and includes property in the Olympic subdivision and the western part of Jacobson Lake.

The wheels of incorporation began more than a year ago amid a heated debate between the city and state Department of Transportation over its plans to upgrade an 8-mile portion of the Parks Highway from Miles 44 to 52. That plan includes dividing the highway, something Wasilla officials and some affected landowners said could kill local businesses if it hampered access to their locations.

Wasilla Mayor Verne Rupright is in Juneau this week and was unavailable to comment on the annexation, but he was a vocal opponent of the divided highway plan. A divided roadway beginning at Lucus Road would limit the commercial development opportunities, he said.

“We can’t develop on the south side of the road, that’s the railroad,” he said prior to the annexation request. “We have our (downtown) couplet that’s already approved, and now they want to build a divided highway all the way out to Hollywood and Vine. (DOT) has blocked us going east, now they’re trying to block us going west.”

The debate over how the state improves the Parks Highway through the city is now water under the bridge, said Archie Giddings, the city’s longtime Public Works director. Even without the highway upgrade, the annexation is a good move for the city and property owner, he said.

“It brings in potential businesses to the city, and they get better police protection and services,” Giddings said.

Overall, the annexation represents close to 1 percent of Wasilla’s overall size of about 13 square miles. Avanti Corp., a real estate development company owned by Pete Zamarillo, owns all of the lots that were annexed into the city. A call to Avanti Corp. for comment on the annexation wasn’t returned by press time Monday.

The Local Boundary Commission’s decision comes more than a year after a petition to annex the property was first filed Jan. 21, 2013. The commission voted unanimously — 4-0 with one person absent — to approve the annexation Sept. 12, 2013. Work to complete the annexation was completed and announced March 5.

A new city limits sign along the Parks just west of the Denali restaurant denotes the new boundary.

Construction on the upgrade planned to the Parks Highway from Lucus Road to Big Lake Road — Mile 44 to Mile 52 — is set to begin this season and wrap up in 2015. For more information, visit parkshighway44-52.info.

Contact Greg Johnson at 352-2269 or greg.johnson@frontiersman.com.