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Events and Action Opportunities
Title 21
The rewrite of Anchorage land use and zoning code is almost complete. Most chapters including
the most important revisions have been provisionally approved by the Assembly.
The Assembly committee that reviews proposed code went on hiatus just before the April election,
and will resume its deliberations in late April or early May. They meet Thursday mornings 9:30 – 11:30
in the Planning Department’s fishbowl conference room at 4700 Elmore Road south of Tudor.
Design standards that come from Anchorage 2020:
- Innovative designs to bypass code standards if community goals are met
- Square footage of windows on walls facing the street is increased
- Sunlight penetrates by separating structures
- Landscaping increases, especially along the foundation
- Articulating walls and massing - ie not "dormitory style" walls with uniform,
repetitive walls and windows marching down the street
- Entrances protected from rain, snow and glaciating drips;
- Driveway width limited at the street (driveways can widen on the lot)
- Dumpsters are screene;
- Garage doors limited to a smaller percent of the house front.
Standards that could be improved:
- Require more variety in housing types in new construction ie developer can build up to 5
identical units in a row all over town;
- Protect sunlight onto existing homes (Chapter 6 dimensional standards do not protect
northern city sunlight);
- Landscaping between the asphalt strips entering townhouse garage doors to provide relief from asphalt;
Bicycle Plan – Approved
Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage had great support from the Assembly, and the Sullivan administration.
The plan was approved without changes. http//www.muni.org/Departments/traffic/AMATS/Documents/WEBAnchBicyclePlan_PublicHearing%20Draft_0809.pdf
Knik Arm Bridge – Stays in the Long Range Transportation Plan
Anchorage Citizens Coalition agreed with the Planning and Zoning Commission that this
$1.5 billion project should be removed from the Long Range Transportation Plan because
it works against the goals of Anchorage’s adopted comprehensive plan and promotes
expensive sprawled development outside existing communities. The Assembly agreed.
But State officials at AMATS joined with Mayor Sullivan to keep the bridge in the near-term
section of Anchorage’s Long Range Transportation Plan. http://www.muni.org/Departments/traffic/AMATS/Documents/5aLRTPPZResolution2.pdf
We have prepared a fact sheet you can print and distribute. Read ACC's October 26, 2009 comments.
Expert Speaker Series
Lynn Peterson
“Safe Walking - the foundation of healthy communities”
PAST: February 5, Noon - 1:30pm, 5TH Floor Conference Room, City Hall
 Anchorage Citizens Coalition brought Lynn Peterson to Anchorage to speak
about the health effects of balanced transportation systems. Lynn is a highway
designer and urban planner who chairs the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners. She lives in Lake Oswego and has worked with 1000 Friends
of Oregon, Fregonese and Calthorpe, as well as Portland's TriMet transit system.
Mt Redoubt's eruption interrupted her March 2009 visit, now we have another
chance to work with Lynn. Her March 2009 presentation can be found at http://www.clackamas.us/bcc/peterson/alaska.htm
Lynn also met with Alaskans at "Urban Drinks," That evening at the Snow Goose on Third Avenue at G Street.
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Robert Liberty
“Beyond Freeways - How to Link Land Use and Transportation”
PAST: June 26, 2009, noon to 1pm, City Hall, 8th Floor Conference Room.
 Robert Liberty, elected councilor for Metro, Portland Oregon’s regional elected government, wrote the original proposal for 1000 Friends of Oregon to conduct
Portland’s groundbreaking “Land Use, Transportation and Air Quality Study”
in the late 1980’s.
Mr. Liberty presented “Beyond Freeways – How to Link Land Use and Transportation”
in June 2009 at City Hall. The heart of Robert’s message? Look for public and private investments that build Anchorage for easier walking and more frequent, more
convenient public transportation. Look towards more compact and sustainable development to achieve mobility rather than relying on expensive high-speed freeways that promote sprawl.
Anchorage 2020 calls for a diverse, northern community with a thriving, sustainable, broad-based economy,
a safe, healthy, active learning community.
Federal policies are moving strongly in this direction. Housing, environmental and transportation agencies
are working together to build “sustainable communities.” Transit officials will consider “livability” and the environment when financing public transportation projects. Proposed transportation law sets goals for
reducing climate change and other air pollutants, increasing walking and biking and promoting infill and redevelopment.
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Grace Crunican
“Building a Sustainable Transportation System"
PAST: October 2008, Featured Speaker Annual Meeting, Loussac Library
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Grace Crunican In October 2008, the Anchorage Citizens Coalition celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a presentation by Grace Crunican, expert in building sustainable transportation systems and currently director of Seattle's Department of Transportation. Ms. Crunican spoke to coalition members about "Building a Sustainable Transportation System."
Grace has had a distinguished career, including five years as Oregon's Director of Transportation and three years with the Federal Transit Administration. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/about.htm |
We're working hard to make
Anchorage the most livable city in America!
© 2006 Paid for by Anchorage Citizens
Coalition • 907-274-2624
ACC is
a tax exempt 501(c) 3 organization. DLN: 606101012 •
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