November 2003
Our next meeting is Thursday November 20 at 7:00 pm at
the Anchorage Christian Church. <----- Temporary location change!
Agenda
Anchorage Christian Church Corner of Lake Otis & O'Malley
Thursday, November 20, 2003
THIS IS A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING WITH THE HUFFMAN-O'MALLEY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
TO LOOK AT THE DeARMOUN ROAD PHASE 2 PROJECT
AND TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE OUR AREA'S OPINION ON THE TYPE OF ROAD THIS SHOULD BE.
The Alaska Department of Transportation held a meeting on October 9 to present their alternatives, with a "preferred alternative" for developing this road.
This was a well attended meeting with a significant proportion skeptical of the analysis and the ultimate plan. There was a push to get back on the list a plan to develop the road along its existing alignment and within the existing Right of Way.
The crowd was told that the plan could be added if local Community Councils approved resolutions requesting this from AMATS (the committee that ranks and authorizes road work in Anchorage). To accommodate us, the DOT has agreed to extend the comment period to allow the CCs time to meet and to craft the resolutions.
Our November 20 meeting will be a joint meeting with the Huffman-O'Malley Community Council along with representatives from DOT.
We will meet at the Anchorage Christian Church on the South West corner of O'Malley and Lake Otis.
The goal of this meeting will be to learn the current status of the project and then to contemplate a resolution.
The first question we will consider is whether or not we want to make a resolution. Should we decide that we do, we will then write the resolution and vote on it.
To expedite matters, a "draft" resolution with various points will be presented. This is based on a discussion we had at our October Council meeting.
Points include things like: "The design speed should be 40mph" "There should be no trail." "Minimal vegetation should be cleared."
By the time you get this newsletter, the "Draft" should be posted at our council's website. Go to www.weddleton.com/cc/DeArmoun Road.htm .
We will discuss each point, change it, then vote to keep or delete it. When we've finished developing the points, we'll vote on the finished product.
COMMERCIAL HORSE OPERATIONS IN OUR AREA? Al Barrett with the MOA Planning Department is putting together a working group to draft an ordinance regarding commercial horse operations in areas zoned R-6, 7 and 9. (That's us.)
There are some issues here. If commercial horse operations area allowed, why not other businesses? There also issues with handling horse manure, increased traffic and big barns.
Al needs people with experience with commercial horse operations or with experience with other local governments that might have a similar ordinance. If you are interested send him an email barrettaw@ci.anchorage.ak.us with Subject line: Horses
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ALSO IN THE WORKS FOR HORSES is an ordinance amending Title 21 (Land Use Rules) to add Private Equestrian Facilities as a Conditional Use Permit in R-6, R-8, R-9. (That's us.) Typically it is easier to get a Conditional Use Permit than it is to rezone for a use. For more info see:
http://munimaps.muni.org/website/htmlviewer/generic/casebody.asp?case=2004-006
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REZONE TO MAKE LONGTIME HORSE BARN LEGIT. Lee Renfrew owns a lot zoned R1-A (One family residential) in the midst of lots zoned R-6. Her lot's dimensions won't fit the R1-A rules for the horses that have been there for many years. She has requested a rezone to R-6 to get things back in order. This is case # 2003-173 scheduled for Planning and Zoning on December 8. If you have thoughts on this, contact Zoning at 343-7943 and go to http://munimaps.muni.org/website/htmlviewer/generic/casebody.asp?case=2003-173
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YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER, BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM DRINK. At two recent public meetings about the DeArmoun Road project, there were frequent complaints that there was not enough "public process." To many it appeared that this project, a catastrophe to some, came out of nowhere.
Roads have been a topic of discussion several times at our councils' meetings over the past few years. February 2001, April 2001, September 2001, September 2003 and again in October 2003. In 2001, we'd typically get only a ½ dozen people from the council area. For one of those meetings, flyers were hand delivered to every home on O'Malley from Birch to Hillside.
This year, we've been a bigger draw with maybe 12 from our area. Over the years, our newsletters have asked for volunteers to be on Road Advisory Committees including the EAST study and the Bragaw Extension. The community was mum.
These are just a tiny few of the many opportunities for you to participate in road planning. The issues are important. (Particularly if you drive or live on a road.) But no one can make you attend a meeting or comment.
So what is a road planner to do? With little willing public participation, they are left to measuring traffic levels and speeds, thumbing through their ASHTO road building book and following the specs.
The result can be catastrophic.
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New Mid-Hillside Board Members! Welcome new board members Amy Johnson, Brian Johnson (no relation), Shirley McGrath (a former Board member returning!) and Linda and James Perkins. These folks will join John Weddleton and Tom O'Grady whose terms continue through next year.
Mid-HillsideBoard Members
Amy Johnson 258-0168 ajohnson@ibissoftware.com
Brian Johnson 345-5883 Brian.Johnson2@angak.mil
Shirley McGrath 345-1606 smcgrath@alaska.net
Tom O'Grady 345-6948 ogrady@gci.net
Linda Perkins 346-2558 miniaturehorses@alaska.com
James Perkins 346-2558 miniaturehorses@alaska.com
John Weddleton 349-8370 john@weddleton.com
Hillside East Board Members
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 THIS MONTH IS AT THE ANCHORAGE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF Lake Otis & O'Malley!
For more info see www.communitycouncils.org/hillmid.html