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JANUARY 2023 | VOL IV
The Planner Platform
Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Services
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
- Borough-wide Comprehensive Planning
- Outdoor Burning & Air Quality
- Urban Area Designation
- Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
- Stormwater Management
- Planner Spotlight: Kim Sollien
- Arctic Winter Games
- Planning Commission Update
- Legislation Updates
- Upcoming Meetings
- Board Vacancies
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The MSB Assembly directed Planning Staff to move forward on updating the Borough-wide Comprehensive Plan; the most recent update was completed in 2005.
The purpose of the comprehensive plan update is to develop goals, policies, and implementation actions to bring to life the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s vision of being the greatest community to live, work, and play.
The MSB comprehensive plan update will dive into the community issues that prevent us from reaching those goals and develop an implementation plan that aims at reducing land use conflicts while promoting economic growth. Through recent planning efforts, MSB planners now know that many residents, business owners, investors, and developers agree: If the MSB wants to foster economic development and be the best place to live, work, and play, then it must provide security and stability to potential investors and current property owners by proactively planning for compatible land uses. The comprehensive plan will showcase resident voices and how they envision their future communities, as well as the aspirations of the MSB as an organization. Read the full scope...
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’Tis the season for cozy wood fires and a feeling of safe outdoor burns. However, fire safety isn’t only measured when the risk of wildfire is high. In the Alaskan winter, fire danger comes from fine particulate matter pollution called PM2.5. Low, dense cloud cover, created by the weather inversions typical in geographic areas like the Butte, traps pollution below the clouds and in the air we breathe. Unfortunately for Borough residents, the health implications of PM2.5 are nothing to take lightly. Read more...
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The U.S. Census Bureau has recently designated a region within the Mat-Su Borough as an Urban Area (UA) based on population and housing density. Planning Staff has been in the pre-planning stages of multiple projects for over a year, anticipating the organizational and regulatory changes associated with a growing and urbanizing community. The designation will impact the Borough’s approach to land use planning, including the specific transportation and environmental planning changes outlined in the sections below.
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Making sure our transportation infrastructure meets the needs and demands of our growing community is extremely important. Most activities like getting to work, school, or to the grocery store require a transportation network that is interconnected, safe, and ideally supports all modes of transportation. When communities grow and municipal boundaries begin to overlap, better coordination is required. Read more...
Click the link below for more information about the MPO and the Planning process or to attend a monthly Policy Board Meeting.
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Unmitigated growth and urbanization can create growing pains in a community, including strains on fresh water supplies, sanitary waste disposal issues, and increased flooding. Development changes the landscape by creating impervious surfaces like roads, roofs, and parking lots. An increase in impervious surfaces can increase the volume and velocity of stormwater runoff and has the potential to transport pollutants to local waters. Below the surface, failing on-site septics or improper floor drains can directly contaminate groundwater. These sources of water pollution can be detrimental to the environment, impact wildlife and fish populations, and harm human health. Read more...
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Planner Spotlight:
Kim Sollien
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Kim is a transplant from Maine but has spent the past 22 years falling in love with the Mat-Su Borough. For her, moving to Alaska was all about having a little adventure, but after experiencing the view from the summit of Matanuska Peak, night skiing under a full moon in Hatcher Pass, super sweet locally grown carrots, scooping salmon out of a river with a big net and the wonderful welcoming community in the Valley, she was forever changed. For her, the majesty of life in the Mat-Su and all it has to offer is deep in her heart, and nowhere else could ever feel like home.
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Kim joined the Matanuska-Susitna Borough as the Planning Services Manager in 2019. She is responsible for setting the vision of the Long-Range Planning Division and has the privilege of coaching, mentoring, and supporting a talented team of Planners working on a variety of significant land use plans, including the Long Range Transportation Plan update and the Borough-Wide Comprehensive Plan update, as well as special projects like the 2024 Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games. Kim manages a number of her own projects, including the development of a Metropolitan Planning Organization, a new Stormwater Management Program and a Public Transit Development plan.
Kim recognizes the Mat-Su is a magical place full of character, opportunity, and beauty and works tirelessly with her team to engage the community to develop plans and land use guidelines to ensure it stays that way.
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Before joining the Mat-Su Borough, Kim worked for several local quality-of-life-loving organizations, including the Mat-Su Trails and Park Foundation and Great Land Trust. Kim’s work focused on working with communities, local governments, and families to conserve open lands and waters that residents and local businesses depend on. Ensuring wild and local foods can fill our pantries and that close-to-home access to public land is maintained for everyone to enjoy kept Kim busy for more than ten years. Kim also spent seven wonderful years working for Chickaloon Native Village as their Health and Social Services Department Director, Sustainable Foods Coordinator, Planner and Grant Writer.
Kim has served on the Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership Steering Committee, the Mat-Su Borough Parks, Recreation, and Trails Advisory Board, and as the Fishhook Community Council President. Currently, Kim serves on the 2024 Arctic Winter Games Host Society. Kim holds a Master of Arts in Sustainable Community Design from Alaska Pacific University, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of Southern Maine and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Foraker Group.
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Planning for AWG 2024 is in full swing! The Clubhouse at 902 E. Palmer Wasilla Highway in Palmer is now open Monday-Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and is stocked with awesome AWG swag. Go say hi to the team (or join us) in planning for this world-class international sporting and cultural event.
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Official Streets & Highways Plan (OSHP):
The Official Streets & Highways Plan was adopted by the Borough Assembly on November 22nd.
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Beverly Lake, Lake Management Plan (LMP):
The Beverly Lake LMP was amended and adopted on December 20th.
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The Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission is comprised of seven appointed individuals, each representing an Assembly District and the larger goals, vision, and voice the Mat-Su community. The commissioners rely on planning staff to help them make educated decisions regarding land use and community development, and to advise the Assembly on planning-related topics. These responsibilities range from approval of conditional use permits to developing and implementing the Borough-wide Comprehensive Plan. Commissioners are then able to use plans like the Borough-wide Comp Plan to help guide policy and strategies that help guide growth and mitigate land use conflict throughout the borough.
"There is no greater place to live on this planet, than the Mat-Su Valley... If we do things right here, the potential for our community is LITERALLY limitless."
- Wilfred Fernandez, Planning Commissioner
The Planning Commission has welcomed two new members this year, Wilfred Fernandez (District 6) and CJ Koan (District 3). Click below to get to know them each a little bit better. A huge thank you to the service of Planning Commission members, Stafford Glashan and Patricia Chesbro, whose terms ended at the start of this year. We appreciate your time, attention and dedication to the Mat-Su Borough community.
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Upcoming Meetings
MVP for Transportation Pre-MPO Policy Board
Wednesday, January 25th @ 1:00 pm
Fish & Wildlife Commission
Thursday, January 19th @ 4:00 pm
Thursday, February 16th @ 4:00 pm
Transportation Advisory Board
Friday, February 17th @ 10:00 am
Historical Preservation Commission
Friday, February 9th @ 6:00 pm
Platting Board
Thursday, January 19th @ 1:00 pm
Thursday, February 2nd @ 1:00 pm
Thursday, February 16th @ 1:00 pm
Planning Commission
Monday, February 6th @ 6:00 pm
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Questions or comments? Want to learn more? Follow along with planning updates via Facebook, or reach out to the team directly:
📞 907-861-7865
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