Y Community Council Comprehensive Plan

Project Date: 2003-2005
Project Manager: Chris Beck
Client: Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Location: Sunshine "Y" Area in the northern Mat-Su Borough

In 2003, residents of the Y Community Council (YCC) area recognized that their population was growing, land uses were diversifying, and ways of life were being impacted. Change was coming to the community, and people felt it was time to discuss what to do about it. One thing became clear: no matter what shape the future might take, the residents of the YCC area wanted to take a more active role in guiding the changes in their neighborhoods, their businesses, and their lands.

The community came together in the Spring 2003 "Y Gathering," a two-day workshop organized locally with the assistance of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the National Park Service. From this workshop, the community identified its highest priority as "preparing a comprehensive plan." The intent was to involve the full community in planning for the inevitable changes heading their way. Agnew::Beck Consulting was hired as a consultant to assist the community through the planning process.

In March 2004, the Y Community Planning Team and Agnew::Beck Consulting released a "Y Community Issues and Goals Report." A brochure summarizing the report was sent to all box holders and property owners in the Y Community. The report set the stage for the first Comprehensive Plan workshop, held in April 2004, in which over 100 Y Community residents participated. During this planning process, the Planning Team met once or twice each month to work with the consultants to prepare and refine the key chapters of the Draft Comprehensive Plan.

In November 2004, a second workshop was held to gain community-wide input on the Draft Comprehensive Plan. Key issues identified in the planning process include protecting rural character, maintaining open space corridors along streams, establishing a town center, reserving a route for an eventual bypass road, limiting commercial development along the Parks Highway, and improving public services and facilities.

The Planning Team, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Staff, and Agnew::Beck Consulting continued to work together to refine the Plan until early 2005, when the Draft Plan was approved by the planning team. In the fall of 2006, after several delays, this draft was approved by the local community council and forwarded to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough for review. The final plan was unanimously approved by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly in spring of 2007.

Check with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough for a copy of the final adopted plan.