A proposed concrete batch plant in Cooper Landing is receiving some pushback from the community because, according to local residents, the proposed plant location is an unwise and inconvenient choice. The issue arose when an ordinance was introduced during the Borough Assembly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 27, which would lease the land necessary for the batch plant to Davis Block and Concrete Company.
The objections raised were not in opposition to the construction of the plant itself, but rather testimony provided during the assembly meeting asserted the current proposed location–Snug Harbor Rd–is inconvenient to those who live along the road and poses a public safety risk.
“Snug Harbor Rd. is a terrible choice,” said Cooper Landing Resident, Karen Button via a Zoom call during the meeting. “Routing industrial traffic through a residential neighborhood for five years feels irresponsible when there are other, better choices.”
The plant would serve as support for the Cooper Landing Bypass (Sterling Highway MP 45-60) construction, specifically for the materials requirements of the Juneau Creek Bridge.
Button testified that Davis Block representatives have assured those who reside along Snug Harbor Rd. that vehicle speed will be monitored and flaggers provided if necessary. According to Button, however, this doesn’t address the issue of ideal location.
“We’re very weary of not being listened to,” said Button. “Whether we like it or not the bypass is happening. And we don’t have a voice in that decision, but we do have a voice with how it happens. And our voices really need to be heard, especially where there’s a clear solution to our neighborhoods being less impacted by the construction.”
A memo provided with the ordinance states, “The lease will encompass approximately 1-acre of a larger KPB-owned parcel currently managed as a material and slash disposal site, commonly referred to as the Snug Harbor Materials Site. Leasing of the site will provide benefit to the KPB through generation of lease revenues, materials site management services, and improvements to the site resulting from the lease. Additional benefit to the community of Cooper Landing will be in the form of locally available concrete services during the during the term of the project.”
The Snug Harbor Materials site is currently the only parcel in Cooper Landing zoned for “light industrial” work.
According to Button, there are at least four alternative sites which would serve as better locations for the concrete batch plant, but they would need to be rezoned by the borough. “I’m saying that I think that there’s another solution and that is why not have a temporary rezone under the same emergency type vote that took place at the CLAP meeting last week?”
The introduction of the ordinance passed by an 8-1 vote, but prior to its passage Assembly Vice President Tyson Cox clarified that its passage does not necessitate construction of the plant at the proposed location. Rather, the ordinance would simply be on the table and could be addressed further.
“We are just here to determine whether or not this should be introduced, not necessarily the merits of the ordinance. That will come at the next meeting,” said Cox. “This meeting is only to say ‘should this be introduced or should it not?’ So if it passes tonight, just know that that’s one of the reasons.”
According to the ordinance memo, the negotiated lease terms provide for an initial annual lease amount of $3,500 for a 5-year term, to include a 3% annual escalation, with an option to terminate the lease early based on completion of the project or to extend the lease for 2 additional one-year terms.
