HomeMy WebLinkAbout02112013 Planning & Zoning Work Session Laydown January 31, 2013
Re: 2013 P&Z Priority List
Dear Council and P&Z Commissioners,
I understand the Nash Road Bench Study (Resource Management
Development Impact Study) remains on the 2013 P&Z Priority List as
funding allows.
I realize that utilizing the fabled Bench real estate has been a dream for
many years. Council members have mentioned view property, more tax
base, development of city property, etc. The property was included in the
city land table of the 2008 Efficiency Study by former City Manager Phillip
Oates' consultant, John Bird. Unfortunately, there are many valid reasons
why this idea should be dropped and no further time or funds spend on
pursuing its development.
In July of 2007, I referred the City Manager, Council, Community
Development, and John Bird to the extensive 2006 Kenai Peninsula Borough
wetlands study headed by botanist Mike Gratz and other scientists. Once
again, I would like to call this study to your attention.
The wetlands study found that the Bench is made of glacier-scoured
bedrock. Septic and sewer systems in bedrock are prohibitively expensive if
not impossible.
Water flowing from Mt Alice pops up in springs and ponds, creating
extensive wetlands. The hydrology ranges from saturated to permanently,
semi-permanently, and seasonally flooded conditions. It would be a
regulatory nightmare to get all the permits required to drain and fill this
wetland complex, and it would still be subject to flooding.
In addition, there is no access up to 800' elevation of the bench. When Mr.
John "Andy" Anderson was allowed to purchase property and build his
home at 800 Nash Road before a Bench land use feasibility study was done,
he most likely used the only remotely possible access to the Bench.
Building and maintaining access to city standards, accessible by emergency
and service vehicles, would be prohibitively expensive.
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Furthermore, these wetlands are unique and special. The wetland study
states: "These headwater peatlands are unique on the entire are mapped, both
around Seward and the Western Kenai Lowlands." The stored carbon in the
peat washes out, providing food for insects. The enriched headwater streams
cascade over the cliff in a waterfall that becomes Spring Creek, a catalogued
anadromous stream. Thus the peatlands feed the salmon. It is a complex and
valuable ecosystem.
Some Commissioners and Council members may recall that the money
received from the sale to Mr. Anderson was to be spent on a Bench Land
Use Feasibility Study, but this never happened. Fortunately, the KPB paid
for this wetlands study.
Please consider these important issues of wetlands, flooding, access, septic
and water systems, and other infrastructure needs. The wetlands study
provides all the background needed. If any action should be taken, it should
be to reclassify this property as an important watershed and ecologically
sensitive habitat.
Thank you for your consideration,
Carol Griswold
Seward
For more information on the bench wetland classification, please to to:
Home Page: http://www.kenaiwetlands.net/
Wetland Classification and Mapping of Seward, Alaska:
http:l/WWW.KENAIVvETLANDS.NET/SEWARD/index.HTM
http://www.kenaiwetlands.net/seward/Ecosystems/HeadwaterFen.htm
and the Kenai Peninsula Borough GIS Interactive Parcel Viewer
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