Roger Baty/Turnagain Times
The annual torch light parade on Mt. Alyeska kicked off the New Year’s festivities in Girdwood.
The annual torch light parade on Mt. Alyeska kicked off the New Year’s festivities in Girdwood.
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Roger Baty/Turnagain Times The annual torch light parade on Mt. Alyeska kicked off the New Year’s festivities in Girdwood. |
By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times
Alyeska Resort’s Master Plan was unanimously approved on a 9-0 vote by the Planning and Zoning Commission at its Dec. 10 meeting held at the Columbia Ballroom at Alyeska. The Area Master Plan was previously approved by the Commission in 1987, however, since that time there has been an extensive rezoning process and the resort was sold by Seibu Holdings Inc. last December to Utah based developer John Byrne.
“Basically what this does is establish the general arrangement of land uses, circulation and infrastructure such as traffic, pedestrian, skiing recreation, motorized and non-motorized use,” said Angela Chambers, Sr. Planner with the Municipality’s Planning Department.
Approval of the Master Plan does not mean the resort can begin breaking ground on individual projects, yet, Chambers said. There are a multitude of individual development plans within the master plan and each one of these plans must be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and comply with local regulations as well as local concerns, he said.
“There are seven development areas,” Chambers said, “and they (the resort) could break them up or condense them. The actual design of the buildings, buffers, motorized and non-motorized will have to comply with the codes of the Girdwood Land Use regulations. So there shouldn’t be any surprises that way, but there will be details to work out. So they’re (the resort) working with the Girdwood Board of Supervisors to be able to come to an agreement on any concerns that may come up.”
The existing Master Plan dated Oct. 23, 2007 encompasses an area of 210 acres, whereas the proposed Area Master Plan encompasses a larger area of 386.91 acres. The new Area Master Plan also goes into more detail than the existing plan. Of the 386 acres, 266 acres is planned for recreation and open space use. In addition, 1,377 residential units will be built with mixed housing and ownership types and densities from one to 20 dwelling units per acre. There will be a maximum of 100,000 square feet of commercial uses related to resort activities, 400 new surface parking spaces, bringing the total parking on the site to 2,200. The potential for underground parking by the Daylodge is also being considered in the Master Plan
Two residential villages are planned with pedestrian facilities and plazas connecting the villages, resort areas, and the Girdwood Townsite. There will also be connections to proposed Heritage Land Bank Nordic developments in the upper valley area.
Diana Stone Livingston, a resident and property owner in Girdwood for over 28 years, who served on the GBOS for two-and-a-half years, and is active with Girdwood 20/20 and Girdwood Inc., touted the resorts development plans.
“Alyeska Resort has been a draw for everyone that comes to the valley,” she said, “and it is the economic engine of the valley, employing approximately 500 persons.”
Livingston went on to say that the employment in construction jobs alone and the capital cost brought to the area by resort development will be approximately $200 to $300 million. She added that future employment for the resort will be at least 700 employees.
Livingston further cited prior approval of the resort’s Master Plan by the Girdwood Land Use Committee by a vote of 53 votes in favor and only two dissenting, and unanimous approval by the GBOS.
Mike Overcast, a 15-year resident, and co-owner of Chugach Powder Guides and Chugach Adventure Guides, said the company caters to a 20 percent local clientele, but the bulk of clients about 60 percent come from the Lower 48 and 20 percent from other countries.
“Our guests show excitement about Alyeska with the backcountry skiing opportunities,” he said. “The resort’s Master Plan is a good plan that is the result of significant time, energy and money that addresses the skiers needs and provides for four season use.” He finished by saying that he supports the Master Plan without hesitation.
Commissioner Bruce Phelps expressed his support for the Master Plan prior to voting.
“The Master Development Plan proposed by the applicant is comprehensive, much more flexible and creative than the existing Master Plan,” he explained “and has the potential for creating a development that will benefit the Girdwood Community and the community at large. This Area Master Plan will address recreational needs and benefit Girdwood and the Municipality.”
Commissioner Nancy Pease continued with her praise of the plan before voting, saying that there was a great deal of community support and enthusiasm for this Master Plan as a cohesive plan by a developer with experience and commitment in the area.
Finally, Commissioner Chair Toni Jones finished by emphasizing that it was important that the public be involved when the Master Development Plans are brought forward.