Anchorage Daily News

PALMER -- Borough contractors last week presented what they had learned about the water, soils and habitat at Hatcher Pass in preparation for a ski area there. But some in the audience wondered why the borough isn't focusing more on building a good cross-country skiing facility, which it has funding for, and ditch efforts for a costlier downhill ski area.

"If we have the money to create a nordic site, what's inhibiting the nordic center from starting immediately?" asked Palmer High cross-country ski coach Darin Markwardt.

Wasilla High cross-country ski coach Jill Showman said in an interview after the meeting that students are chomping at the bit for a good-quality, cross-country skiing center that is nearby. About 115 students from the three central Mat-Su high schools currently hopscotch around to the few trail systems available for practice, trying to stay out of each other's way, she said.

But project organizers say it's not so easy. The borough doesn't currently have access to money it can spend on the nordic ski area and would need Assembly approval to pursue plans for the cross-country area separately from the downhill ski area.

First things first, said Ron Swanson, a former borough community development director contracted by the borough to head up plans for the ski area.

The borough has $6 million in Federal Transit Administration funds for studying where to build roads, parking lots and trails at Hatcher Pass. About half of that will pay for a federal environmental impact statement that determines how development in the area will affect the Hatcher Pass ecosystem. The other half will be spent building as many of those roads, trails and parking lots for the project as possible.

"We can't use a dime of that (construction) money until we are done with this (environmental) process," Swanson said.

Swanson is charged with coming up with a plan that will finally get a ski area built at Hatcher Pass, after decades of discussion. He's working with Dowl HKM engineers who recently wrapped up a summer of field studies at Hatcher Pass. Dowl officials are taking public comments on ski area plans through Jan. 16 and will spend the next two years preparing the environmental impact statement.

Markwardt pointed out the $3 million expected to be left after environmental studies are complete is just what the borough says is needed to build an Olympic-class nordic ski area. It would take another $19 million to build a downhill ski area, complete with lifts, a day lodge and other amenities. The borough doesn't currently have that money.

"Why are they together, when they're so separate in terms of usage and funding?" Markwardt asked.

Swanson said he'd like to see the two projects move forward on parallel tracks. But ultimately, he said, it'll be a decision for the Mat-Su Assembly to make. When, or even if, that would be considered is unclear.

The Assembly in September approved Swanson's plan to build a modest downhill ski area near Government Peak at Hatcher Pass that would be similar to Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau. A nordic facility north of Edgerton Parks Road is part of that plan.

Former Mat-Su Assemblyman Jim Colver said he hopes the Assembly follows Markwardt's advice.

"Do the nordic. Do something. We need results," Colver said.

But current Assemblyman Robert Wells said he, and likely others who have clamored for a Hatcher Pass ski area for years, would feel betrayed if the alpine ski area were jettisoned in favor of nordic trails.

Wells said in the 20-some years he's been pushing for development at Hatcher Pass, downhill skiing has been the focus.

Residents at the meeting Thursday also raised concerns about residential development in the Hatcher Pass area. Past ski area business plans included selling residential property to finance construction of the recreational facilities. Such development plans generated criticism when included as part of Anchorage developer JL Properties' ski area proposal in 2005.

Assemblywoman Michelle Church said the environmental study should show whether Hatcher Pass would support septic systems and wells needed for year-round homes.

"Don't we need to know whether we can build something, and at what capacity?" Church asked.

Swanson said residential development in the area isn't part of the current ski area plan, but he couldn't say homes would never be built there, "maybe in another generation."

In a later interview, Swanson said the Assembly could add residential development to the business plan, but selling lots there is "off the table today."

Find Daily News reporter Rindi White online at www.adn.com/contact/rwhite or call 352-6709.

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