Wasilla council discusses road standards

WASILLA — The Wasilla City Council held a Committee on the Whole discussion concerning road construction, design and development standards at their July 12 meeting. The discussion was sponsored by Councilmen Tim Johnson and Jordan Rausa. Johnson had a specific quarrel with a neighboring property undergoing new construction which he brought to the planning commission. Johnson felt that road standards were lacking and in need of review.

“The real issue that I would like to be sort of decided on tonight is, is there a need for additional regulation or refinement of the existing regulations and if so then I would like to have a subcommittee developed to actually propose some addtl legislation,” said Johnson. “I think that our existing ordinances are open to interpretation and need to take into account the long range planning for a modern city and secondly we need to take advantage of passing the costs onto developers instead of taking and shifting the costs back to the city at some future date for these kind of activities.”

Johnson said that he hoped to see an additional requirement for any newly constructed building or a building with major renovations that include widwalks, curbs, and stormwater gutters to be included. Johnson also added that he would like to see residential paving projects include sidewalks.

“I don’t think city council’s role is to micro the regulations,” said Councilman Tim Burney. “Government regulations, those two words just don’t sit well with me. Even though I do know we need some common sense legislation I think that the details are better left to the professionals that are on staff that work directly for the mayor and then they come to us with their proposals and then we can make those changes from there.”

Johnson elicited some support from Council members. Councilman James Harvey noted that if the code changes were necessary and the committee were to be filled with experts in the area, he could see the benefit. Councilwoman Nikki Velock was also hesitantly in support of updating road codes.

“You say regulation, I say standards. So you know it doesn’t scare me because what it does is it quantifies our expectations,” said Rausa.

Public Works Director Archie Giddings detailed the broad ability of the planning commission to require specific standards, but that the planning commission must strike a balance in doing so.

“I like to think it’s just like us. We are looking at what’s best for the city so I just think we need to be careful taking too much authority from the planning commission so they do have some leeway to make decisions,” said Brown.