Wasilla eyes annexation policy

WASILLA — City Councilman Kristofer Larson said he hopes a resolution on the agenda for Monday’s Wasilla City Council meeting will help clear up and focus city policies on annexation.

Larson is sponsoring the resolution, which focuses on supporting and making use of different annexation methods. Overall, there are seven annexation methods approved by state law.

“I want to really hold onto what our state Constitution and state law says,” Larson said.

He wants to “clarify” the city’s policy and to put it in writing. For years, the city has pursued annexation without specific policies in place, Larson said. By having annexations options spelled out and a policy in place, city administration will be able to select an annexation method that best fits each situation.

Larson said he hopes future annexations and new development can be aligned to adjacent existing development. In Wasilla, certain residential areas have been littered with commercial buildings.

“I believe we need some better planning for areas around the city,” he said.

Jim Holycross is Wasilla’s city planner and said Larson’s resolution falls in line with an overall need to bring more area inside city limits.

“The demand for land inside the city is growing,” Holycross said. “I hear time and time again that people are interested in moving into Wasilla, but we don’t have the land.”

Holycross said the city has relied on a method of annexation that requires 100 percent approval from property owners and resident voters in the affected areas. That method is probably the easiest and most property-owner friendly, but other options may be employed for some situations.

“It’s pretty much there, but it hasn’t been stated publicly [as a city policy],” he said.

Councilwoman Dianne Woodruff said the 100 percent approval method has worked OK in the past, but it may be time to consider other methods. Often an area proposed for annexation falls to the wayside because one property owner is against annexation, while many others would prefer being part of the city. Wasilla needs a policy to address that and be consistent.

Although it may be beneficial to consider other annexation methods, Woodruff said the city should still approach annexation with a smile and not an iron fist.

“It’s my intent not to get too pushy with people,” Woodruff said.

Councilman Marty Metiva said the resolution is a necessary step in establishing an appropriate policy for annexation.

“It’s a good idea,” Metiva said. “Currently, we don’t have a written policy.”

As Wasilla grows, it will be important for the city to use annexation as a part of that growth, Metiva said. And when it comes to annexations methods, more is better.

“I think the bottom line is it gives us options,” he said.

Council will discuss the annexation policy at its Monday meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in council chambers at Wasilla City Hall.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.