Agenda
O'Malley Elementary
Multipurpose Room
Thursday, May 15, 2003
Seven acres on a bench below Near Point have been proposed to be rezoned from residential to "Antenna Farm" which would allow up to nine 200' towers to be built. At our April meeting, Matt Moore, President of the Basher Community Council asked us to consider a resolution opposing this request.
There are several issues involved here. This is a significant rezone that should wait until the writing of the Hillside District Plan so the span of options can be considered. There is also a desire to avoid a proliferation of antenna sites by putting a bunch together. Is this spot at Near Point the best spot?
The immediate goal of the Basher CC efforts is to not have antennas in their neighborhood. Our CCs' involvement would be to further encourage a broad review of zoning in our area rather than piece by piece decision making.
We will invite Joe Henri, the man who owns the land where the antenna farm would be located, and Barb Hood a representative from a group actively opposing the zoning change.
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SOME OF THE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS CAN BE SO DULL! There is probably no way to make this: "Title 21 Diagnostic and Rewrite Project" sound interesting. But when someone clears the tract next to your quiet abode and builds the Wild-and-Noisy-Party-Palace Condos you might wish you had read the rules on zoning before they did!
"Title 21" is the part of the municipal laws that deals with land use: what's allowed to take place in your neighborhood. A big part of what Community Councils are all about is watching for zoning violations and commenting on requests for zoning changes (See the discussion of Antenna Farms!). The character of your neighborhood is determined by these laws.
The Municipality is rewriting Title 21. An assessment of Title 21 and a proposed revised structure are available at http://www.muni.org/planning/prj_Title21.cfm. or go to the Planning Department at 4700 South Bragaw Street.
You can learn more at meetings downtown in City Hall: Thursday, May 15 12 Noon - 2 p.m. Mayor's Conference Room, Room 830 or Friday, May 16 Noon - 2 p.m. Assembly Conference Room, First Floor.
Anyone who is willing and able to pay attention to this process will be awarded a Community Council zoning sheriff badge and all the powers that come with it!
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Bears in the Community Rick Sinnott, a member of the Anchorage Bear Committee will discuss progress on a management plan for urban bears, how to keep garbage and bird seed away from bears, and bear safety. The Anchorage Bear Committee is an interagency group which includes the major public land managers, the municipality and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
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WILDFIRE AND YOU! A few minutes with Anchorage Firefighter Sue Rodman can ruin your summer! Her passion will inspire you get cutting, clearing and hauling until your home is safe. Better to lose a few hours of recreation than to lose your home!
Sue Rodman and Michelle Weston York will be talking about wildfire mitigation programs and the municipality's evacuation planning efforts. We'll also get an update on this year's wood lot and possible subsidies for clearing on private lots. These foresters are working to initiate a tree removal cost-share program by June 1st. Because it is a pilot project, they are taking the first 250 applicants only.
The recent reminder of the devastation at the Big Lake fire should encourage you to learn what you need to do to protect yourself from wildfire.
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TRAILS WERE THE MAIN TOPIC of comment in the Parks Plan Update survey we sent out last month. You can make a plug for trails in our area at a Trails Open House on May 28 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm at the Loussac Library. All the info is at www.crweng.com. Click on the MOA Trail Rehabilitation Project. Also see www.crweng.com/Trails/Reports/infosheet.pdf
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Severe Winter Storms Disaster Assistance! So it's wildfire in the summer and wild winds in the winter! If your home, personal property or private business was damaged by the March 6-14th windstorm, you may be eligible for federal disaster assistance. To find out if you are eligible call 1-800-621-3362.
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our trash collectors can't get enough! Waste Management is making a pitch to get all the garbage in the city! WM currently picks up for 49% of Anchorage. MOA serves about 20%. The remaining +-30% haul their own. While WM would have exclusivity in residential services, there would still be four companies certified to provide commercial collection services.
The municipality and WM are negotiating a franchise where every homeowner would likely be required to pay even if they have no garbage.
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Bylaws changes Proposed Bylaws changes were tabled at our previous three meetings. The recommended changes are posted at the Councils' website www.weddleton.com/cc/bylaws.htm. Or call John Weddleton at 349-8370 and I can fax or mail the changes to you. We expect to vote on these changes at our May meeting. _________________________________________________________________________________
The Basher Community Council got over 100 neighbors together on short notice when an antenna farm was proposed for their area. How did they do it? E-mail! Get your newsletter via email! Send your name and email address to Charlene at councils@alaska.net !
PARKS PLAN UPDATE SURVEYS Last month we sent out a survey to develop our area's comments for the update to Anchorage's Parks Plan. We got 22 responses so far. Bicentennial Park and Chugach State Park are used the most by respondents and most thought they were in good condition. Ruth Arcand Park and Forsythe Parks get a lot of varied use, too.
The trail along Birch is the most used but there's some grumbling about the frost heaves. Another north-south trail along Hillside is desired and would get lots of use, too.
For more details, check out the Councils' website www.weddleton.com/CC
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We have No regular meetings in June through August. The council's website will be updated. If there's something big brewing we'll use our email to notify people. We hope to have information on plans for O'Malley Rd and DeArmoun Rd construction during the summer.
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Muni Clean Up Week is May 3-10. May 9-10 Green Star Computer Recycling Days, 9th Business and 10th residential at the old Carrs at Dimond and Old Seward. GET YOUR FEET WET! May 17 is the Anchorage Waterways Council Creek Cleanup Day. ____________________________________________________________
Board Members
Mid-Hillside
John Weddleton, President 349-8370 john@weddleton.com
Jeff Clarke, Vice President 349-4892
jay_peak@hotmail.com
Tom O'Grady Secretary
349-6948 ogrady@gci.net
Amy Johnson - Transportation Committee 258-0168 ajohnson@ibissoftware.com
Hillside East
Tom Newins, President
345-8881 newins@gci.net
Bjarne Holm, Vice President
robinholm@gci.net
We meet at 7pm on the third Thursday of the month at O'Malley Elementary School on Rockridge off O'Malley. For more info see www.communitycouncils.org/hillmid.html