12/17/2023
Land Use
ONGOING: 3plex/4plex reform going before the Assembly at the December 19th meeting...The reforms address obstacles to building these (once-common) housing types in areas where they are still technically allowed, but currently subject to more expensive requirements than other types of housing occupying the very same footprint.
Agenda Item 14.F: AO 2023-103(S) Zoning Code
Agenda item 14.G: AO 2023-130 Building Code
In the ADN: Anchorage Assembly members aim to cut red tape for tri- and fourplex housing: ““How do we get more smaller multifamily on land that was already zoned for it? Why aren’t they building it? Why are the builders just not building the small units that we need? And how do we remove those obstacles?” Cross said.”
ONGOING: Assembly Strategic Housing Plan. “After unveiling the draft housing strategic plan at the Anchorage Community Housing Action Summit, the Assembly received 177 suggestions from 26 individuals and 10 agencies. The feedback shaped the near-final version of the strategic plan, and the Assembly will consider adopting the Housing Action Plan at the Dec. 19 meeting.”
There will also be a Q&A with Charles Marohn from Strong Towns, keynote speaker from the Housing Summit, at 12pm on December 19th: register here.
NEW: Check out the Assembly’s 2024 legislative program.
Main priorities:Port of Alaska Modernization
Increasing Housing Supply and Addressing Homelessness
Supporting Mental & Behavioral Health Needs
District/neighborhood-specific improvements begin on page 10 of the document.
Transportation
NEW: AMATS Policy Committee Meeting: December 21, 2023 at 1:30pm. Committee nominations, TAC comments on MTP projects, TIP amendments, and a Transportation Systems Management & Operations Plan.
NEW: Parking lot expansion at the Canyon Road trailhead. The state has published project details for a $1.9 million dollar parking lot project for 94 spaces at the end of Canyon Road. It’s not clear if the project includes plans to accommodate users of other modes of travel. Hat tip to Northern Journal for post and links.
NEW: AMHS 2024 Summer Ferry Schedule. We’re a bit late on this, and only including it because we wish there was a ferry out of Anchorage, but AKDOT is taking comments on its proposed summer ferry schedule until tomorrow, with zoom meetings on 12/19 at 10am and 1:30pm.
ONGOING: Spenard Parking Study. Seeking feedback from people about how they would like to store their vehicles in the Spenard area: “The Municipality of Anchorage Planning Department is conducting a Parking Management Study along the Spenard Road Corridor.” Take the survey here until December 22, 2023.
ONGOING: AKDOT’s Seward Highway Expansion Project is still accepting comments. The ‘open house’ materials can be found here. (12/21/2021: “Dunleavy has instructed the department to find solutions with the ultimate goal of making a four-lane divided highway between Potter Marsh and Bird.”)
Community
UPCOMING: Winter Solstice Festival at Cuddy Park. Thursday, December 21, 2023 from 5 - 8 pm. More info from Parks & Rec.