For almost 20 years, at the behest of the Municipality, the Chugiak-Eagle River community has been asked to participate in the Chugiak-Eagle River Site-Specific Land Use Plan (CERSSLUP) and its 2018 Update. One of the primary objectives of this plan is to ensure better development than what has occurred in the area. This plan is about creating a development our community can be proud of and that will provide a higher quality of housing that meets the needs of the community.
Now, as Anchorage struggles with the lack of affordable housing, we have a developer (Carol Creek LLC/Kourosh Partow) presenting his plan as a solution. His proposed development is currently before the MOA Planning Dept. (Case No. 2023-0800). Unfortunately, the developer’s plan will do nothing to solve the problem of affordable housing (units starting in the low $400,000 range for small houses on small lots are not affordable for the average resident), nor does the developer’s plan accomplish the intent of the CERSSLUP.
The developer intends to put the maximum number of allowed dwelling units on the property, at the expense of providing the quality of development that the CERSSLUP intended to create.
The builder, despite being asked by individuals and the Chugiak Community Council, has not made any adjustments to his original plan, but instead maximizes the number of dwelling units and then asks for variances that sacrifice the goals of the plan.
If the builder does not want to adhere to the goals of Title 21 and CERSSLUP and must ask for variances to accomplish his goal of maximizing saleable units, then let him look elsewhere for land to develop. Do not sacrifice quality for quantity.
— Sandra and T. Bartlett Quimby
Eagle River
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