The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is the crown jewel of the Anchorage park system, an 11-mile trail from downtown to Kincaid Park. The health of the Coastal Trail is a good measure of our success in reaching our goal of being the No. 1 city in America to live, work, and play. Developing Anchorage as a world-class winter city also means we need sensible, efficient ways to manage winter snowfall. To prevent contamination of our waterways, we need to improve the Kloep Snow Dump Facility, a large snow dump on airport land used by both the municipality and the state.
A land trade proposal before the Anchorage Assembly to swap Coastal Trail park land for the snow dump threatens to divide the community. In my discussions with airport management, the mayor's office and the Alaska Department of Transportation, a complex set of federal aviation regulations may be forcing negotiations between one public entity -- the Municipality of Anchorage -- with another public entity -- the state-owned Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport -- over reasonable use of public land. It seems odd that a federal regulation would create some kind of bidding war between two public entities.
The relationship between the airport and the Coastal Trail has a long history. Early in his term, Mayor Rick Mystrom crafted a compromise, with the Assembly's approval, that created Point Woronzof Park as a means to protect the Coastal Trail. At the same time, Mystrom's compromise supported continued strong economic growth at the airport. The proposed land swap seeks to undo Mystrom's compromise and give the airport ownership of Point Woronzof Park. Ownership of land west of the north-south runway would make it easier for the airport if, many years from now, it needs to build another runway. The claimed urgency for such a land swap is belied by the fact that today everyone now agrees that there is no need for expanded runway capacity. In fact, everyone agrees that the airport currently has more runway capacity than air traffic, with no end in sight.
For years, the municipality has leased the Kloep Snow Dump Facility, located at the east end of the airport near Minnesota Drive, for disposal of snow from our roads. Water laws now require an upgrade to the snow dump to protect our local waterways. The municipality can use bond funds to pay for the needed improvements if it has a long-term lease for the land. The current short-term lease is not enough for a multi-year revenue bond.
Moving forward, both the municipality and the state should get clarity about the federal regulations. If the federal regulations do not address our unique setting in Anchorage where undeveloped land and park land surround over half of our airport, then we need to change the federal regulations. And if the regulations are intended to force one public entity to negotiate with another public entity over reasonable use of public land, then we need to change the regulations so that we can make decisions in the public's interest. After all, public land should be used in the public's best interest.
The park land surrounding the airport is a hodgepodge of public ownership from Connor's Bog Dog Park (state) to Point Woronzof Park (municipal) to Little Campbell Lake (state). Fortunately, the updated Airport Master Plan has no plans for development of these parcels. Rather than move forward with a proposal that may divide the community, we need a solution that brings the community together and makes wise use of our public lands. Wise use means community discussions and a long-term plan for the West Anchorage park system, including Kincaid, Connor's Bog, Little Campbell Lake, Point Woronzof, and the Coastal Trail.
First, the municipality and the airport should agree to a long-term lease that will allow the municipality to make needed improvements to the snow dump. Second, the Assembly should not approve the proposed land swap and we should get clarity about the federal regulations.
Rep. Matt Claman, D-Anchorage, was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2014. He has served on the Anchorage Assembly and as acting mayor of Anchorage.
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