Date: February 26, 2010
Subject: Comment on Assembly IM 10-039 and Resolution
Dear Mayor Colberg and Assemblymembers:
The Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition (AQRC) has many members and supporters who enjoy quiet winter recreation in Hatcher Pass. The purpose of this email is to express AQRC’s opposition to a motorized corridor in the Government Peak Unit, along the Carle Wagon alignment. Our underlying objection is permitting motorized recreation to be inserted into the Government Peak Unit which, for over twenty years, has been reserved for non-motorized recreation. Permitting motorized activity in the midst of quiet recreation creates major safety issues as well as simply being incompatible with the experience sought by the non-motorized recreationist. Â We know that State Parks lacks sufficient funding and rangers to adequately monitor the boundaries now in existence, much less take on additional areas. We also suggest that any approval of this particular corridor could well pre-empt and negatively affect the Borough planning efforts for the development of the ski facilities and trails proposed for this unit. The public review draft of the revised management plan for Hatcher Pass is scheduled to be released at the end of the first week of March. Holding a public hearing on March 2, before you or the public know what is being proposed in regard to parking, motorized/non-motorized areas and trails, etc., cannot possibly give you the information you need in order to decide whether or not to approve this particular route in this particular location. We strongly suggest you follow the advice given by the Borough Manager in his Feb. 9, 2010 memorandum. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Susan Olsen, President, Alaska Quiet Rights CoalitionPO Box 202592 Anchorage, AK 99520