“This is our opportunity as a city to make available our staff for you to ask individual questions and kind of understand some of the projects in a holistic way,” Mayor Begich told the audience.
People began roaming about the ballroom, where it seems many questions were quelled with the right information—at the end of the meeting only three questions were asked of the Mayor himself.
Some departments represented were Renewable Resources, the Scott and Wesley Gerrish Library and Community Center, Public Transportation, and The Boutet Company, amongst many others.
Renewable Resources in Anchorage is looking to provide an easier means of recycling for Girdwood’s residents.
“If we can’t have curbside recycling, one of our top priorities is to establish drop off points,” said Nick Moe, a Renewable Resources Intern.
For those of you who think that glass is not being recycled in Alaska, you’re mistaken.
“We’re grinding up our own glass in Anchorage,” said Moe. Which he said was being used for traction on railroads and sand blasting ships in Seward.
The city is moving forward to offer curbside recycling in some areas of Anchorage and establishing a central location for recyclables to be dropped off said Mia Mistler, Customer Supervisor. However, she said it is not feasible in the Girdwood area to provide curbside pick-ups, but the city could provide a central site for recycled items to be dropped off.
In the past re cycling was offered at the Girdwood Transfer Station, which, at the time, was a volunteer effort. She said a new location being considered is at the industrial site next to the Transfer Station. The goal is to have recycling available in Anchorage and Girdwood in 2009.
Locally, Girdwood library and community center representatives updated residents on how construction of the new building was progressing.
“We’re hoping to move in this spring,” said Karen Keller, Cultural & Recreational Services Deputy Director. “We don’t have a date yet.”
The public transportation department was there touting the share-a-ride program through People Mover. Currently they have three vans running from Anchorage, all of which are in association with Alyeska Resort—the resort’s housekeeping staff is the main user of the service. Representatives from the People Mover hope that more people will utilize the service for commuting to Anchorage. A minimum of eight passengers is required per van. And although having a People Mover bus to service Girdwood is not out of the question, financially right now officials say it is not feasible.
“We’d really like people to sign up for a van pool,” said Jody Karcz, Director of Public Transportation. “We’re not going to start a People Mover down here until the demand for it is proven, and the first step is to get people to sign up for a van pool.”
The Boutet Company was on hand displaying its Girdwood capital improvement projects. It is extensive and includes the Park & Ride, Arlberg Avenue extension, Olympic Circle improvements, and the Girdwood South Townsite Master Plan.During the question and answer session at the end of the meeting, Tom Nelson, Planning Department Director for the Girdwood Area Plan Land Use Plan, fielded a question from GBOS Parks and Recreation representative, John Gallup, who asked whether the industrial site could be used for parking heavy equipment.
“What’s held up the development of the industrial park is that the costs of the improvements that would be required exceed the revenue that would be gained by selling the lots,” Nelson answered. “The big hurdle right now is being able to come up with sufficient funds in order to make the necessary improvements.”
Nelson also addressed the Crow Creek development plan. He said the first phase of the development would take place in the Lower Matrix off Crow Creek Road located north of the Girdwood School above Glacier Creek. The city plans to offer lots to build 35 to 36 homes. The lots in the subdivision will be put up for bid next year, he said, with construction anticipated to begin in one to two years. But before any groundbreaking can begin, utilities must be added including water and sewer lines.
Girdwood’s future will be guided in large part by the municipality which owns the majority of developable land. However, the mayor expressed that private development, specifically by Alyeska Resort, would spearhead a great deal of the early development and economic activity in the valley.
“We must make sure that the resort moves forward in a positive way,” Begich said. “Because it will be a catalyst for other businesses to develop. We do not want to hamper the resort’s long-term development here. We want to make sure we’re successful.”
Begich added that the city will exercise responsible development in Girdwood, advocating respect for the environment and protection of the area’s sensitive wetlands.
“It’s all about respecting the environment,” he said. “Recognizing the wetlands, raising the design standards to have less impact on the environment.”
In regard to the municipality’s plans for residential development, Begich said it’s important to build affordable housing, something sorely missing in the housing market in Girdwood.
“When I say affordable, I mean not in the high end market,” he said. “Some might be duplexes or cluster housing. Prices could be around $200,000 to $300,000. As a city we can put a resolution in so you can create a proxy on the market so there’s title restriction.”
The city also owns land in Glacier/Winner Creek. The plan calls for extending Arlberg Road, but city planners and representatives from the Boutet Company were hesitant to provide any specific answers, saying it was too early in the planning stages to provide concrete analysis.
But it’s the present economic situation that has the mayor most optimistic. He cited the near completion the Girdwood library and community center, and the progress being made for the new South Girdwood Townsite.
“Four years ago, I was optimistic about where we’ll be,” he said, “and we’re there right now.”