Borough Planning Commission Votes Against Gravel Extraction Ordinance

Numerous Alaskans spoke out against the Mat-Su Borough’s proposed gravel ordinance change this week, leading the Borough Planning Commission to vote against supporting the measure.

In December, Assembly Member, Mokie Tew, introduced a change to MSB 17.30, an ordinance governing the extraction of gravel.  Currently 2,000 cubic yards of gravel may be extracted annually without a conditional use permit (CUP).  Mr. Tew proposed that the limit be increased by a whopping ten times, to 20,000 yards annually. 

The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal this week and took public testimony.  Over fifty people either wrote in or testified at the meeting.  Public sentiment was overwhelmingly against the change.

Even gravel extraction professionals were against the measure, using words like “ill-conceived, absurd and irresponsible.”

The change was intended to lower costs of development.  According to Alex Strawn, Planning & Land Use Director for the Borough, it can cost thousands of dollars to apply for and comply with an application for a CUP.  He added that there is no guarantee that the CUP will be awarded even after the requirements are met.

But industry professionals countered that the diligence required of satisfying a CUP awarded them credibility with the public. The permits assure that environmental standards are being met and citizen’s concerns are being heard.

Here’s Steve Colligan of the Alaska Rock Products Association:

“I’d like to see as little regulation as possible, but in reality, it provides a fair and balanced effort to communicate with the public and some guidelines for development.  So the current CUPs and other permits, we feel are fairly reasonable and have helped, over the years, facilitate the communication between the public, the Borough and the operator.”

After the conclusion of public testimony, the Planning Commission voted 6-0 to not support the ordinance change.  The measure will now bounce back to the Assembly, where they will either decide to pursue it without the support of the Planning Commission or continue with the guidelines currently in place.