Proposed Change to Gravel Extraction Riles Public

Assemblymember Mokie Tew proposed a change to the permit requirements for gravel extraction in the Mat-Su Borough last fall. The Planning Commission recommended passing the ordinance that would allow an increase from 2,000 yards of gravel to be extracted annually to 10,000 yards without a conditional use permit. Tew introduced a similar ordinance change in February 2022, but with a limit of 20,000 yards before the conditional use permit would be triggered. That effort failed. There was no prompt for this legislation and the industry didn’t request it. Assemblymember Nowers indicates there is no problem with the existing legislation. 

“This was poorly thought out from the beginning and there was no justification in the write-up. So now we’ve been backing into trying to find a reason for this.”

Mr. Tew, the owner of a gravel extraction business that he claims is not currently in operation, was the focus of ire from many residents who submitted comments prior to the Assembly meeting on Tuesday, March 7. As of 11am the day of the meeting, the Borough Clerk had received comments from at least 90 residents. None were in favor of the legislation and many called out Tew for conflicts of interest. The Local Road Service Area Advisory Board, water services boards, and local community councils, including Trapper Creek and Talkeetna, opposed the legislation. The majority of residents who spoke at the meeting also opposed the legislation. 

On the day prior to and day of the Assembly meeting, Assemblymembers Yundt, Bernier, and Nowers submitted proposed amendments to the ordinance. Bernier’s amendment states that topographic features could be flattened, but that no holes remain. Yundt’s amendment requires that gravel pits not be located within a half-mile of one another. His version also provides waterbody protections of a minimum of 100 feet and an administrative permit fee of $100 for extraction of 2,001 to 10,000 cubic yards. Neither amendment provides for public input, nor do they limit gravel extraction activities in residential areas. Nowers’ amendment allowed for visual screening, noise mitigation, and lighting and road access restrictions. Nowers’ amendment also would allow the public to weigh in on proposed gravel extraction activities. 

Among the many issues discussed, Assemblymember Hale comments on unintended consequences of smaller unpermited gravel sites. 

“My biggest fear is that we have a whole bunch of these tiny little 10,000-yard gravel plays pop up and then when the play is exhausted and people move on, nobody’s doing any reclamation. Nobody’s even keeping an eye on the property. Next thing you have, the squatters move in. They drag a bunch of junk cars in there and then you’ve got another Butte Compound you’ve got to clean up. And then that falls on us as well. We have to spend money to clean these places up. We have to spend resources to go after the landowners who are allowing this to happen. I just see it as bad policy.”   

Several of the seven Mat-Su Assemblymembers disclosed that they own businesses or work in the construction industry, though none recused themselves. 

After about four hours, the Assembly voted four to three to continue public discussion and vote on March 21.