The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly enacted an ordinance amending borough code establishing an advisory planning commission (APC) in the Nikiski Area.
The assembly previously created local advisory planning commissions within the borough to provide recommendations to the Planning Commission on land use planning and public land management issues which could affect the existing and/or future character of their communities. The APCs provide residents with an opportunity to participate in land use planning activities proposed for their communities as there currently are APCs established in Hope, Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, Anchor Point, and Funny River.
This advisory planning commission for Nikiski covers the areas of Nikiski, Gray Cliff, Kustatan, Tyonek and Beluga, which equates to roughly 3.5 million acres.
Additionally, a proposal for an alternative APC, instead of what was passed, called for just over 307,000 acres, similar in size to the Borough’s other APCs.
Camille Broussard, Petitioner/Coordinator told the Borough Assembly that 3.5 million acres is too big, “I come in front of this Body to formally object to the position taken by the KPB Planning Commission regarding the boundaries of the Nikiski APC. The Planning Director had recommended cutting down the boundaries in his August 11, 2022 memo concerning this ordinance under consideration and then also voiced his recommendation at the August 22, 2022 KPB Planning Commission meeting. They then voted to amend the boundaries and it passed.”
Broussard added, “The Nikiski community strongly objects to the amended boundaries. We voiced our objections at that meeting. At a Community Meeting held on July 19th , 2022 by the Planning Department, there was unanimous support to include the entire area as it was petitioned for.”
The proposed amendment making the Nikiski APC similar in size to the other ones in the Borough failed on a 7 to 2 vote.
Once the APC is codified, the mayor will appoint seven residents to the APC within 90 days of the adoption of the ordinance. The appointments will be presented to the Assembly for confirmation.
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