Townsite plan worries some at Point MacKenzie

PALMER — The Mat-Su Borough and some residents of Point MacKenzie are at odds over plans for a townsite in the area.

“Because of the interest in a bridge, because we are anticipating more activity at the prison, the idea is to plan as opposed to letting stuff just naturally happen, i.e. with no planning,” Borough Manager John Moosey said in explaining the rationale behind the townsite.

He said the borough would like to be able to decide where on borough land to put things like schools and fire stations so it doesn’t end up in a situation of having to buy back land at market rates it previously sold off for development.

The area is anticipated to grow as employees of the prison and the port seek housing, he said. A rail line under construction is expected to bring more business to the port. And if a bridge to Anchorage goes in, the area would be a perfect bedroom community for that city, which is already bursting at the seams population-wise.

So far, though, Moosey said the planning is just lines on a map, and those lines are open to negotiation. He said he’s heard rumors about how far along the project is, and few of them are true.

“As far as any additional money being spent on outside consultants or road plans, nothing like that has been spent,” he said. “People are expecting houses to be built next month. No. 1, we’re government; it doesn’t happen that fast. And No. 2, we’re not that close.”

Borough planner Lauren Driscoll said at a June 18 borough assembly meeting that the plan will not be extreme.

“We can learn from other places’ mistakes, but we have to hold true to who we are,” she said. “Far left crazy zoning is not what the market is interested in.”

Maps on the borough’s website includes a float plane base and outlines areas set aside for recreation and high-density residential, as well as mixed residential and commercial development. Driscoll said one thing the borough is lacking is high-end office space. There could be some of that in a Point MacKenzie townsite as well.

But the residents of Point MacKenzie are mostly objecting to the spot the borough has picked out near the prison off of Alsop Road. A couple of them testified at that June 18 assembly meeting.

“One of the things I didn’t hear anybody at this meeting talk about is the environmental impact of developing that area back there,” said Tamera Windsor. “It’s a major wetland.”

She said she wasn’t opposed to development.

“I love some of these projects. I’m looking forward to them coming into the community, but we are very, very concerned on the new townsite proposal,” she said.

Anthony Oney pointed out the area is notorious for having trouble finding good, steady water supplies.

“The prison was a bad place to build,” he said. “Now you want to build a townsite next to it. That’s poor planning.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at 352-2270 or andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com.