Time to consider land-use planning

To the editor:

The article in last Friday’s Frontiersman regarding the boom in multi-family housing needs a follow up article about the need for land-use planning and zoning in the Mat-Su Borough. It’s surprising that there is no permitting required for new residential construction.

Last summer, Byler Contracting had a 32-acre site on Marble Way, off KGB, and adjacent to my property, subdivided into 21 approx. 11acre lots. The land was level, wooded, and a prime candidate for residential development. The property was essentially clear-cut, and the developer is nearing completion of 21 quadplexes consisting of 84 single-family homes on the 21 lots. They are being to sold to a variety of investors.

Were any studies done as to the adequacy of water, sewer, drainage or the traffic impact of 84 houses on 21 lots? Would this have been approved as 84 ¼-acre lots?

Construction has been underway for approximately nine months for six, and often seven, days a week throughout the winter. Many days work began at 5 a.m., and on other days didn’t end until 10 p.m. It has been disruptive.

I acknowledge and support the need for affordable, multi-family housing, but it has to be done with a vision of what the Valley will be like in five, 10 and 20 years. These quadplexes are popping up all over the Valley, frequently in neighborhoods of single-family homes.

It’s time for multi-family zoning, land-use planning and smart development. For starters, the ordinance that allows four houses per lot needs to be revisited. We could also use a construction noise ordinance in residential neighborhoods. Maybe 7 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sundays off?

Multi-family developers are vital to a growing area like the Mat-Su Borough. They provide needed housing, increase the tax base, and create a lot of good paying jobs. They also need guidance and rules to follow like the rest of us.

Gary Finch

Wasilla