Michael and Barbara Christian recently purchased their home on Rogers Road largely because of its direct Inlet views. So when Bike Mike’s petitioned the City to build a gravel pit, the Christians asked the City of Kenai to stop the project…
Christian: “Our view is about 160 degrees left to right of the Kenai Mountains, clear all the way to mountains, and although they have an injection plant for the gas storage right there in the way, otherwise it’s nothing but trees and eagles and everything else. Now this plot of land, 5 acres that they cleared, is absolutely right in the center of it. Of course, we’re above. We’re on a bluff and we’re looking down into this land. He’s completely taken all the trees out.”
But last night the developer, Mike Brown, was visibly shocked and pleased when Michael Christian told the Kenai Planning and Zoning Commission he was now in favor of Brown’s plans for his Childs Avenue pit…
Christian: “We saw what he was trying to do, we talked to him, and he seemed to be very concerned on our concerns; the sight, the noise, the possible scars in the land, that type of thing.”
Christian said now his only complaint is that he wishes Brown had left more trees on the property to conceal the view…
Christian: “The problem is that they allow cutting of 75% of the trees on a property without any consultation of the City or the planning or anything like that. He obviously can excavate that amount without any permit, because he’s been doing it. Just now he’s asked for permission for a gravel pit, he’s practically got it going right now.”
Brown has already cleared close to three acres on a five acre parcel and although the Christians and other neighbors are concerned about the impact on their property values, Michael says it could be worse…
Christian: “I can’t say that I’m all for it, but it is zone heavy industrial. A lot of stuff could go in there that we would not like. If we’re going to see something go in that goes down instead of up, we would be in favor of that.”
Brown has included a reclamation plan in his application. The issue will be picked up again at the May 27th P&Z meeting.
