'We are listening': Joint MSB Assembly meeting, Planning Commission meeting discuss gravel extraction ahead of continued public hearings

During the regularly scheduled joint Matanuska Susitna Borough (MSB) Assembly and Planning commission meeting, public comments once again focused on the proposed gravel extraction ordinance that would allow extraction of 10,000 cubic yards of gravel without a permit. Currently, people can extract 2,000 cubic yards without a permit.

During the previous MSB Assembly meeting, after more than 50 residents spoke on the ordinance, assembly members were unable to agree on the proposal, instead agreeing to continue public hearings at the next assembly meeting and taking the opportunity to discuss with the planning commission. No action was to be taken on the current ordinance during the Tuesday meeting.

Before they could get to that, people took time to again speak on the ordinance.

Patty Fischer, who has previously spoken out at past planning and assembly meetings in opposition of the gravel legislation, again voiced her position.

“Legislation is unnecessary, in my opinion. The current permitting process is working. 85% applications submitted are passed, and they are passed quickly within 30 days. The major problem with the (new) legislation is that it takes the public out of the process. There’s serious consequences to a gravel pit-pollution of water and air, safety and traffic issues, noise, and reduction of property values…communities need to be able to comment on the location of a pit.”

Ruth Wood called in from Talkeetna, also wanted to let group know that public notification is important. “This is a really, really serious proposal that really cuts out the public. It cuts out the notification,” she said before asking how the MSB plans to will enforce the ordinance if it were to pass.”

Wood also expressed frustration at what she sees as a lack of transparency, saying, “I want you to know we’re listening.”

She also went on to say that she feels that there is an unnecessary rush to push something that constituents have expressed they do not want. “It feels like you are trying to cut us out, that we aren’t important. We are important.”

When it was time to discuss the current proposed ordinance, Planning Commissioner Bill Kendig told members that he believes the addition of the amendments from MSB members Rob Yundt, Stephanie Nowers, and Mokie Tew make a big difference.

Planning Commissioner Rick Allen also agreed, saying he felt the amendments go a long way to improving the proposal, but did voice a concern.

“In some ways, I think they make the system better. My only concern remains, the version I’ve seen still basically eliminates the public process, and I’d like to see some way that we could incorporate some sense of public process back into it.”

Other commissioners defended the process the ordinance went through, saying it has been correctly posted the entire time it had been in front of the Planning board and that it wasn’t being pushed through without public knowledge.

Assembly member Rob Yundt told the members that the Mat-Su Home Builders, which represents over 120 businesses, has voted unanimously to support the ordinance.

Assembly member Nowers said that the people who have reached out to her overwhelmingly do not support the gravel extraction ordinance.

“The thing I’ve heard more than anything, is that for the private property owners, the residential home owners paying taxes, if we have something that could significantly impact their value, whether it’s a gravel pit or a concert venue, they want to have a say on it, to have some consideration on the impacts of it.”

She also said that the process has worked since 2005, with over 85% of permit seekers wishing to extract gravel being approved, even with assemblies that were left-leaning or right-leaning.

“I think that’s kind of a testimony to having a pretty good permit process.”

Assembly member Yundt challenged the members that if they could improve the current permit process, to bring it forth. He also told members that while he didn’t sponsor or co-sponsor the ordinance, he could care less about it, but that if the process could be improved, then he is for it.

“If I can help improve it, I’ll vote for it. If I cannot, and I don’t think it’s going to be better than the current process, then I won’t vote for it.”

Assembly member Mokie Tew spoke about his reasoning when he crafted the ordinance was to make it easier for people.

“My thought process was to make it easier for people to develop undesirable lots. To make a young person with a backhoe and a trailer and a dump truck, make it easy for him to go out and make a living. I figured the cheaper the lot, the cheaper the house. The guy that’s making $18, $20 an hour might be able to pay rent there.”

The gravel extraction ordinance will again be on the agenda for public hearing at the next MSB Assembly meeting this Tuesday, March 21.