MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE

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1 DATE: June 3, 2009 MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM PRC #09-35 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Commission Tom Korosei, Park Planner Proposed Land Exchange for Chugach Electric Substation Lease, Campbell Park (Addition to Far North Bicentennial Park) Proposal and Background Information The Municipality of Anchorage is seeking the transfer of approximately 16,500 sq. ft. (approx ac.) from Campbell Park for lease to Chugach Electric Association (CEA) in exchange for an equal area that CEA would relinquish for the proposed East Dowling Road extension. The affected park area is adjacent to the west side of CEA s Dowling Road Electric Substation, as shown on the attached drawing. The Municipality would retain ownership of the area and the lease would be managed by the Heritage Land Bank. The existing substation, which serves the mostly residential area nearby, is on a 1-acre lease area now managed by HLB. The proposed alignment for the Dowling Road extension would traverse the northerly undeveloped portion of the lease area, affecting approximately 16,500 sq. ft. CEA indicates that that portion of the lease area or an adjacent equivalent area is needed for future expansion. The Parks and Recreation Department understands that CEA finds that land east and south of the existing lease area is not suitable for potential expansion because of limitations including other existing utilities. The Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed granting an intergovernmental public use easement for the road project at its regular meeting Jan. 12, The easement area, approximately 18.5 acres of Campbell Park, surrounds the current lease area and includes the area that would be subject to the proposed lease. At the time of the previous Commission action, however, it was not clear that CEA s lease area would be affected and that, therefore, a portion of the park area would be used for a non-municipal purpose. Under AMC and Section of the Municipal Charter, conveyance of dedicated park land, such as Campbell Park, must be approved by public vote as well as by Assembly ordinance. The subject area is predominantly classified wetlands in a natural condition and is identified in the Anchorage Bowl Park, Natural Resource, and Recreation Facility Plan as a Natural Resource Use Area. The Parks and Recreation Department finds that the area is not developed and used for active recreation, and the Department has no plans for recreation development of the area. Requested Action Parks and Recreation staff recommends that the Parks and Recreation Commission adopt the attached resolution recommending that the Assembly authorize the conveyance generally as requested.

2 Parks and Recreation Commission PRC #09-35 June 3, 2009 Page 2 Attachments Cc: Jim Topolski, CEA Michael Abbott, Municipal Manager William Mehner, Director, Heritage Land Bank Shawna Popovici, Central/Southeast Park District Mgr.

3 MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE ANCHORAGE PARKS & RECREATION PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Submitted by: Prepared by: Chair of the Commission at the Request of the Department Director Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department Anchorage, Alaska RESOLUTION NO Proposed Conveyance of Park Land for Chugach Elect. Assoc. Substation Lease WHEREAS, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities proposes to extend East Dowling Road through dedicated park land to connect to Elmore Road consistent with Municipal Transportation Plans; and WHEREAS, the proposed route traverses a portion of Municipal Heritage Land Bank Land leased to Chugach Electric Association for a substation serving the surrounding neighborhood; and WHEREAS, Chugach Electric Association has requested that an equal area adjacent to the west boundary of the remainder of the lease tract be made available for future utility use to replace the land taken for right-of-way use; and WHEREAS, the subject area is classified wetlands subject to additional regulations and permitting, is not currently used for trail or other active recreation purpose, is not shown in current plans for active recreation development, and was previously identified by the Parks and Recreation Commission for possible use related to the road extension project; therefore, NOW, BE IT RESOLVED that the Parks and Recreation Commission has no objection to the proposal to transfer management of approximately 16,500 sq. ft. of dedicated park land to Heritage Land Bank for lease to Chugach Electric Association, to be used for future substation expansion, and recommends that the proposal be submitted to the Anchorage Assembly for approval. PASSED AND APPROVED by the Parks and Recreation Commission this 11 th day of June, Chair ATTEST: Department Director

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5 Campbell/ Far North Bicentennial Park Approx. route proposed Dowling Rd. Ext. Lease area to be relinquished Elmore Park area to be transferred for lease CEA Substation Current lease area boundary Wetland Dowling CEA Substation Vicinity ² Feet Trail Campbell/Far North Bicentennial Park Park Boundary