Land Use & Neighborhoods Spectacular, diverse landscape with distinct communities

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1 Land Use & Neighborhoods Spectacular, diverse landscape with distinct communities Most of the borough is remote, wild and held in public ownership: 70% of the borough is located within Denali National Park and Preserve. The human footprint in this 12,000 square mile area concentrates in a corridor along the Parks Highway, the home of 1,800 year-round residents in a handful of small settlements: Anderson on the north is linked to the adjoining Clear AFS. At the borough s southern end is Cantwell, home to the Native Village of Cantwell. In between are three primary settlements: Healy, which started as a coal town; the seasonal park entry lodging and commercial area known as Nenana Canyon, and McKinley Village. These three share connections to the flow of visitors into the Park, but each has its own unique character. Land Uses, Trends and Issues The description of land use in the borough combines many elements that have changed little over the years mountains, rivers, wildlife. At the same time, other elements have changed greatly and are likely to continue to evolve. Important Wild & Natural Landscapes Pride & Pleasure in Community Life Changing Character of Neighborhoods & Towns Management of Borough- Owned Lands The borough s economy, fiscal health, and quality of life builds around access to a wide range of attractive, untouched wilderness environments. Variations in land policies will help determine the future in these valued places. Survey results make clear people treasure the small town, friendly in the borough. Growth can degrade these benefits, or alternatively, help sustain them, for example, through helping to pay for new community facilities. New uses are changing the character of some locations, particularly in traditionally residential areas. Some residents see these changes as disruptive, and hope rules might be created to protect neighborhood quality. The borough has received almost 50,000 acres of land through the state Municipal Entitlement program. A recently-adopted plan and Borough code sets out goals and policies for the use of these lands, including identifying areas for future disposal and for retention in borough ownership for a range of public uses.

2 Land Use & Neighborhoods Future Issues, Opportunities & Choices The existing Borough Comprehensive Plan and the interviews and survey associated with this update highlight a range of land use issues, goals and choices. Highlights are presented below. Protect Neighborhood Character Few borough residents want strict, or even any, rules on use of private land. At the same time, residential neighborhoods have seen some big changes recently, including new employee housing, motorcoach parking, and commercial activities. Should the borough overall, or individual areas, have policies to reduce off-site impacts of land uses, e.g., setbacks, buffers, or other policies? Should there be rules separating potentially incompatible land uses, such as separating industrial uses or gravel pits from adjoining homes? Increase Housing Supply Many voices expressed desire for more housing options, for year round residents as well as seasonal employees. How best to respond to this need? Improve access to and sell borough-owned land? or land held by the Alaska Mental Health Trust, the Alaska Railroad, the State of Alaska? Work to find neighborhood-compatible locations for seasonal workers? Create incentives to bring more existing private land onto the market. Improved access is one option; another more controversial option would be to a property tax, giving owners a motivation to no sit on land indefinitely. Environment, Economy & Quality of Life Land use policies can have big impacts on all these topics. Options to discuss: Strategies to guide growth and improve appearance & walkability of some areas, like the Park entrance? Create a Healy town center? The picture at right is a concept from a previous plan. Strategies to improve recreational opportunities for residents and visitors? Example: a trails plan, more front-country recreation on public lands? Strategies to protect views along the Parks Highway? to protect natural landscapes (e.g., setbacks from streams, rules on off trail vehicles)? Manage Land Use? Two extracts from the Comp. Plan: Doing nothing is not an option. Failure to act will result in erosion of our regional character, quality of life, and independence. Through planning and involving individuals of the Denali Borough, we can maintain and improve the qualities we like about this region. Ensure that the Denali Borough Bill of Rights guides land use regulation functions to protect private real property rights. One option to bridge the gap between those who want no growth, and those who want no regulation or management, is shown below: No Growth MANAGED GROWTH No Management Currently all land is zoned unrestricted except the around the landfill which is zoned industrial. Any plan for more land use rules needs to be realistic about the capacity of the borough to enforce them. The #1 activity of visitors throughout the world (including Alaska) is shopping, dining and entertainment in a pedestrian friendly setting. - US Travel Assoc.

3 Transportation, Access & Safety Transportation options, or modes, provide mobility (getting from one place to another) and access to important destinations. There are many modes of transportation in the Denali Borough, from freight trucks on the Parks Highway to shuttle buses to recreational trails. Current Transportation Modes & Infrastructure Road System George Parks Highway: Main corridor through the borough, connecting all communities with Fairbanks, Mat-Su and Anchorage. Denali Highway: Mainly unpaved, connects Cantwell and Paxson Most major roads are state owned and maintained Alaska Railroad Connects the borough to the Railbelt at the Park (passengers) and Usibelli Coal Mine (freight) 1 in 5 visitors to Denali Park arrive by train (95,906 in 2015) Coal transported to Fairbanks, or in the past south to Seward for export. Aviation 6 main airports, including facilities at Clear and within the Park 3 main airstrips, and numerous smaller airstrips or helipads Primarily uses: tourism (flightseeing, transport to remote areas), private & recreation use, remote emergency & fire services Road Maintenance & Construction Borough has no road powers Highways and major roads in the borough maintained by Alaska DOT&PF year-round Other roads and subdivisions maintained privately by residents Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Informal multi-use trails developed along existing rights of way on Parks Highway and major roads Safety concerns along busy Parks highway and Healy intersections Multi-use path, signal intersection recently built along Parks Hwy. at Nenana Canyon Denali Park Road 92 mi from Park entrance to Kantishna mining district Buses operated by Doyon/Aramark Joint Venture or private lodges, primarily within the park Vehicle access limited past Mile 15 (Savage River) except with permit Motorized Uses Many people use ATVs and snowmachines to travel in the borough or access remote lands Informal trails within right of way along Parks Hwy. and main roads Motorized use is restricted within the Park and on some public lands Some conflicts with other users Recreational Trails Many informal trails, no formal network established or maintained Park trails maintained by NPS RS 2477 corridors preserve public access, with others pending Some trespass issues; Ahtna allows trail use with a permit How do people get around? A 2015 survey conducted by the Healy Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Ad-hoc Committee found that residents travel around in different ways: 97% car, truck or van 78% walk or jog 55% bicycle 43% ATV & 4-wheeler Busy Parks Highway Corridor The Parks Highway serves 1,000 to 3,000 vehicles daily, with the highest concentration around the Park entrance and Healy Spur/Hilltop Rd. intersection. Average vehicles per day (2015) Road Vehicles/Day Parks Hwy., north of Park 2,600 Parks Hwy., south of Park 2,000 Parks Hwy., Healy area 1,800 Healy Spur Rd. 1,000 Healy School Rd. 830 Otto Lake Rd. 560 Clear Rd. 480 Hilltop Rd. 330 Nenana Canyon intersection, Parks Highway

4 Transportation, Access & Safety Existing Plans Healy Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Plan Developed by the Healy Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Ad-hoc Committee Approved by the Borough Assembly in August 2016 Focused on Healy (Parks Hwy mi 247 to 251.2, Healy Spur, Otto Lake, Hilltop, Stampede/Lignite) Where Do We Want to Go? Issues & Opportunities Overall Goal: Prevent vehicle-pedestrian related accidents and conflicts in a growing community. Goal 1: Infrastructure. Establish safe traffic and pedestrian routes within the community of Healy. Goal 2: Education. Promote a culture of safety and mutual respect between motorized and non-motorized user groups. Strategies to promote safety: Multi-use paths, turn lanes, wider shoulders on DOT roads Speed limit and pedestrian crossing signage Trails or safe crossings for students at Tri-Valley School Denali Park Transportation & Trails Planning Vehicle Management Plan Adopted 2012 Slower growth of vehicles allowed within the Park over the next two decades Shift future recreation demand from Park Road to front country activities at Park entrance and accessible areas Respond to increasing shoulder-season/winter demand Trails Strategy & Long Range Transportation Plan Planning in progress, summer 2017 Possible trail routes along Parks Highway, additional access points to the Park from the north or south, connecting existing Oxbow & Triple Lakes trails Possible future shuttle system for improved access into the Park or travel between destinations within the Park Develop or expand partnerships to improve visitor amenities and services within and around the Park Land Access What are the priorities? Improved access for future sales of Borough land for residential uses? Access to areas adjoining existing development (e.g., Montana Creek area? Access to remote lands Road Maintenance State funding likely to decline Should the Borough explore options to adopt road powers for local needs? Should residents/land owners have the option for Road Service Areas, where there is local support? Park Traffic Support more front country development, activities Connect trails within and outside the park Promote shuttle, circulation plan, better access to most popular destinations Bike & Pedestrian Safety What options to address growing pedestrian traffic? Multi-use trails on roads Improvements at key intersections (with DOT) Planned developments to create attractive, practical, safe walkable places Trails Planning Document formal and informal trail network Set priorities & processes for preserving high value public trails Public private partnerships for maintenance, events, education, signage Scenic Character Given the importance of tourism, what actions to maintain visual quality of the Parks Hwy corridor? Sign ordinance? Keep vegetation as buffers? Restrict development?

5 Healthy Local Economy & Borough Fiscal Health Economy Overview: Diverse and Highly Seasonal A robust economy, based on tourism, coal, federal spending A highly seasonal economy; swinging from Alaska s lowest to its highest unemployment. Access to spectacular natural landscapes mostly undeveloped, mostly publicly owned support the lion s share of the borough economy Tourism & Recreation Denali Borough s largest economic sector More visitors to Alaska: 1,857,500 summer visitors in 2016,; the state s biggest year ever. Alaska continues to be a popular destination: Alaska is exotic, but safe and accessible. More visitors to Denali National Park: Growing from 375,000 in 2000, to almost 600,000 in Tourism businesses have been consistently adding capacity in recent years, or about 1 new hotel per year. Locally-based spending: Denali National Park visitors spend $600 million annually, the 4 th highest in the U.S., which supports about 2,500 local, mostly summer jobs. Expanding Visitor Season: Visits to Denali outside summer are growing, from nearly zero 20 years ago to about 1500/month in the heart of winter in recent years. Quality of Life: Access to wild lands is a major reason people live in the borough. Top 5 National Parks by Visitor Spending Denali N.P. Annual Visitation, Federal, State & Local Goverment National Park: about 300 employees, most are seasonal School District: about 100 jobs Clear AFB: about 400 jobs, permanent and contract employees. Large upgrade project may bring additional large, short influx of onbase construction jobs Denali Borough 9 full-time jobs, 1 part time, 1 seasonal Coal, Electricity, LNG Pipeline? Coal: Usibelli coal provides about 120 good paying, yearround jobs. GVEA: Operation of Golden Valley Electric s plant adds an additional 40 jobs (60 when operating at peak). Alaska LNG Project: a major potential project through the borough. If and when this would happen is uncertain at this time. Local Support Services Local commercial services are limited; most needs are met through shopping in Fairbanks or Anchorage, or online. Existing local services include: post office, restaurants and gas stations operating yearround, bank, itinerant medical care, and some construction. The Healy medical clinic will be closing, uncertain if or when it will re-open at this time. Fiscal Overview Bed tax pays the bills In 2016, $3.5 million collected in bed tax, about 2/3 of all borough revenue. Denali Borough is a lean operation: services offered are schools, solid waste, land planning, and general administration. School district funding makes up about 2/3 of borough expenditures Other revenue and expenditures: mining severance tax, fees and costs associated with solid waste service

6 Healthy Local Economy & Borough Fiscal Health Future Issues, Opportunities & Choices A Less-than-Clear Crystal Ball: External Forces Tourism Attractions & Spending The Park Service aims to slow growth of in-park vehicles, and to guide anticipated recreation and tourism demand to front country locations and nonsummer seasons, and to rely on more on local private sector partners. How will this policy affect overall visitation (and bed tax revenues)? What new, local economic opportunities may become available? Could Healy and/or Park Entrance become year-round town centers for tourists (and residents)? Coal, Gas & Energy Usibelli Coal Mine currently serves the Alaska market. The future could bring renewed exports, and/or growing pressures to reduce carbon-based fuel usage. Government Spending & Impacts on Borough About 79% of Denali Borough School District funding ($8.3 million) comes from state and federal sources. Alaska s budget problems mean local residents may need to pay for a larger share of local public services. How to respond to reduced state spending on schools, roads, police, other services? $700 million is being invested at Clear AFS. Much of the technical work is being done out of state, and producing few locally-based jobs and other economic benefits. Could this change in the future? Local Services & Facilities: Public and Private Sector The borough s population is small and aging. School enrollment is flat or declining, and local schools have significant unused capacity. How will these demographic trends affect the borough s economic health? Are there arguments for growth in the right locations, in the right style, as a way to sustain or improve desired local facilities and services? Examples from the survey: a recreation center, trails & roads, medical clinic. What about expanding services and shops serving local residents? Stable Economy? By Alaska standards, the Borough economy is stable and diverse. But coal, tourism, and government spending follow national & global trends. State and Federal Spending What future at Clear AFB, with Park Service budgets, and with State support to borough schools and roads? LNG Pipeline Wildcard The proposed natural gas pipeline would pass through the Borough, creating jobs and potentially substantial property tax. Climate Change Alaska s climate is warming twice as fast as global averages. What will this mean for issues from tourism to road maintenance costs? To Grow or Not to Grow? Tough Choices Today, it s tough to offer a 3-generation economy: parents, children and grandchildren can make a good living in the same place. The survey results, while not statistically valid, showed diverse opinions among residents, but overall a real reluctance or opposition to growth. At the same time, there was support for benefits that come with growth: new facilities, capacity to define and maintain neighborhood character, and expanded economic opportunities. Some questions to consider: Is it realistic to stop growth? Could tourism evolve toward all-season activities, bringing more year-round jobs? Would that be a net positive for the borough? If growth is guided in a way that matches the community s values, can a growing economy and growing population be a good thing long term? These days, no place stays special by accident. - Planner Ed McMahon, presentation to the Borough, 1998