05/27/2026
Assembly to repeal Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan consideration for CUP applications
Ordinance 26-021: https://pnqk.me/arpqzy
IM 26-030: https://pnqk.me/hilnl8
Link to Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan: https://pnqk.me/gjkdqr
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Dear Meadow Lakes residents and community members,
We are writing to let you know about legislation pending at the Borough.
Ordinance 26-021 (Informational Memorandum IM 26-030) will be heard on Tuesday, June 2. It would repeal specific consideration of community’s Comprehensive Plans, such as the Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan, when evaluating Conditional Use Permit applications for earth materials extraction (i.e. mining). For example, for large gravel mines like the one previously proposed on Sylvan Road.
The Meadow Lakes Community Council used our Comprehensive Plan in 2021 as a key argument to oppose a gravel pit on Sylvan Road which was proposed in our town core area. We were successful in opposing the pit at that time.
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Ordinance 26-021
For Public Hearing on 6/2/2026
An Ordinance Repealing A General Standard Of MSB 17.30, Conditional Use Permit For Earth Materials Extraction Activities.
Sponsor: Assembly Member Sumner.
The ordinance’s sponsor states in the IM that this ordinance will merely remove a repetitive item already covered by State of Alaska statute. However, we have heard concerns that this is an effort to weaken comprehensive plans to facilitate approval of large scale gravel operations.
Members are concerned that this ordinance disproportionally impacts the Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan because there are a disproportionate number of gravel extraction CUP applications in Meadow Lakes.
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Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan
The Meadow Lakes Comprehensive Plan was developed by the residents of Meadow Lakes and approved by the borough. It is our strongest tool to oppose issuance of CUPs for gravel pits in inappropriate locations. It was the document which had the strongest impact for the pit being disapproved on Sylvan Road in 2021.
We support context sensitive development and industry that is spelled out in our comprehensive plan. We do not support industrial mining in the middle of neighborhoods or areas reserved for town core areas. There are many locations in Meadow Lakes for gravel operations that do not violate our comprehensive plan.
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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Please consider submitting your comments.
>> 1) Call or email your comments in advance of the Assembly meeting (asap).
>>> 1) Email your comments to the Borough Clerk and request she forward them to the whole assembly. Due by Friday, May 29th. [email protected].
>>> 2) Call Ron Bernier (rep for most of Meadow Lakes): 907-354-7877, [email protected].
>>> 3) Call Bill Gamble (rep for Buttercup Dr, Leora Dr, Ridgecrest Rd, and Johnsons Rd): 907-232-0103, [email protected].
>>> 4) Call Dmitri Fonov (Trumpeter Swan Dr, and Alvins Alley): 907-775-6666, [email protected].
>>> 5) Text Maxwell Sumner (rep for Vine Rd, and Sylvan Rd): 907-232-6797, [email protected].
>> 2) Provide in-person public testimony on June 2 at 6 pm.
>> 3) Provide phone testimony on June 2 at 6 pm. 1-855-225-2326.
The Assembly will likely vote on this ordinance at the meeting on June 2. Our requests for postponement so that we could discuss it at our June 10 MLCC meeting were rejected.
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Sincerely,
Camden Yehle
Meadow Lakes Community Council Secretary
907-346-0506
Patti Fisher, Treasurer
Meadow Lakes Community Development
520-465-6856
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