Borough Reclassifying Land in Talkeetna

The Borough is proposing the reclassification of five acres of land just north of the Warm Storage Facility on Comsat Road in Talkeetna. The Borough hopes to change it from public recreation lands to reserved use lands to build Talkeetna’s fire station there.

Talkeetna’s fire station is in the 500-year flood zone. The new site is outside the flood zone. Moving the facility also provides an insurance benefit to more Talkeetna residents because they would be within a five-mile radius of the new station. 

Planning and Land Use Director Alex Strawn says that the new facility will likely take about five years to go from planning to construction once the land is reclassified. Though funding has not been allocated for the new facility, it is likely to be at least partially funding through grants. 

The Borough notified the public of the proposal and only one comment was received. The neighboring landowner was concerned about traffic, siren noise, lighting, and well water levels.

With an average of only one call per day, the traffic would be minimal. The Department of Emergency Services says in the backup materials that the lights and sirens would be turned on at the Spur Road, rather than at the station. The well at the Warm Storage Facility is 101 feet deep and produces 30 gallons per minute. 

The Borough Assembly will vote on the reclassification of the five acres at the January 2nd meeting.