03/30/1999 08:06 AM House CRA

HB 63 - LAND USE IN HOME RULE BOROUGH                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Number 2136                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIRMAN HARRIS announced that final order of business before                                                                
the committee would be HOUSE BILL NO. 63,"An Act relating to land                                                               
use regulation in residential zones by home rule municipalities."                                                               
He noted that this meeting would continue the public hearing                                                                    
portion of HB 63.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHERYL RICHARDSON, testifying via teleconference from Anchorage,                                                                
said that HB 63 seems to have the potential to make Alaska's cities                                                             
more liveable.  She discussed the problems that arise from gravel                                                               
extraction such as dust and modifications of the natural                                                                        
surroundings.  Ms. Richardson supported HB 63 because the bill                                                                  
makes the city more liveable while providing local control.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIRMAN HALCRO commented that after the initial hearing of HB
 last Thursday, there were a number of members who were                                                                       
interested in the municipality's response to HB 63.  The                                                                        
municipality believes that HB 63 hampers the municipality's ability                                                             
for local control.  Co-Chairman Halcro informed everyone that after                                                             
today's public testimony, he intended to allow the municipality to                                                              
craft legislation that would protect neighborhoods.  Co-Chairman                                                                
Halcro asked Ms. Richardson to share her frustration with regard to                                                             
the inaction of local government in addressing neighborhood issues.                                                             
                                                                                                                                
MS. RICHARDSON noted that the Sand Lake gravel pit has been a                                                                   
concern for that area for years.  She was most familiar with the                                                                
gravel pit by O'Malley where there are such concerns as the lack of                                                             
dust suppression.  She understood the neighborhood's concerns as                                                                
well as the municipality's concerns with regard to local control.                                                               
Ms. Richardson pointed out that the municipality's view of local                                                                
control may be different than that of the neighborhood.  She                                                                    
indicated that as neighborhoods hear about HB 63 there would be a                                                               
great amount of support for it.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIRMAN HARRIS informed the committee that the committee packet                                                             
included a response from the Alaska Municipal League as well as the                                                             
Municipality of Anchorage.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE MURKOWSKI said she appreciated Co-Chairman Halcro's                                                              
willingness to negotiate with the municipality on this.                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CO-CHAIRMAN HARRIS closed the public testimony.  He informed the                                                                
committee that he intended to hold HB 63.