Public Input is Pivotal as Kenai Peninsula Borough      Evaluates Land Use

The heart of the Kenai Peninsula is its people, their lifestyle, and the ways they connect with the lands.

In order to be effective, responsible stewards of the land it is vital to understand the varied uses, needs, and opportunities that lay within the landscape. In an effort to identify which land uses are appropriate to include in land management planning, what lands within our borough boundary are currently being used for, and what the needs of the community are, both now and in the future, the public was encouraged to participate in a on line survey this past January and February 2013.

Over the six (6) weeks 1,172 surveys were completed which identified a total of 4,398 land use suggestions on 381 different parcels of state lands. A large number of responses identified that recreation and ecological resource management is important to continue on these lands with the appropriate addition of lands for community expansion and public services.

The borough has also identified recreation, ecological conservation, resource management, community expansion and community services as the basis for which to acquire and use public lands.  These criteria were the basis for the selection of the remaining 27,000 municipal entitlement acreage that will be requested from the State of Alaska.  Land parcels were identified based on their perceived value to the borough both currently and in the future.

Public input is at the core of this project. Once KPB receives the land it will be able to pursue its own classification process under KPB Chapter 17.10. This includes an additional public process set forth in that ordinance to determine the most appropriate classification and use of the land for the borough and its communities.

Thank you for your input and assistance in confirmation of these needs and specific lands. The information and communication is vital as we move toward land use planning.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RECEIVED SURVEY RESULTS

Thank You Kenai Peninsula!

The heart of the Kenai Peninsula is its people, their lifestyle, and the ways they connect with the lands. The public responded to the KPB with great enthusiasm, conviction, and heart on questions of what public lands the borough should pursue under its municipal entitlement land grant and what uses are important to consider in the management of those public lands.. The support received from individuals as well as special interest groups and other government agencies was strong and effective. The comments received helped to create a vision for life on the peninsula. A vision for land selections and a vision for land use planning, both now and in the future. The people of the Kenai Peninsula assisted in the creation of “A Lands of Local Importance Vision” (ALLIV).

This selection of 27,000 acres completes the acquisition of state land through municipal entitlement. The public process however, does much more than that. It draws a picture of our home, our families, our communities, our residents, and our lives here on the peninsula. It creates a vision, ALLIV on the Kenai.

On July 2^nd the KPB Assembly passed Resolution 2013-054 with a vote of unanimous support.

Upon completion of the state adjudication process KPB will begin its own classification process under KPB Chapter 17.10. This includes an additional public process; to determine the most appropriate classification and use of the land for the borough and its communities. The public comments received through our on line survey in January and February 2013 identified a total of 4,398 land uses. The public identified which land uses they considered appropriate to include in land management planning, what lands within our borough boundary are currently being used for, and what the needs of the community are, both now and in the future. This public opinion is vital to the KPB as we strive to be effective, responsible stewards of the land. It is vital to understand the varied uses, needs, and opportunities that lay within our landscape.

Thank you for sharing your vision, for your assistance in confirmation of these needs, and identification of specific lands that are important to you. The information and communication that has been established as a very important building block as we move toward land use planning on the Kenai Peninsula.

Click Here to View Memo from the Mayor's Office

Click Here to View Resolution 2013-054

Click Here To View The Survey Results

Municipal Entitlement Land Selections Update:

Region 2 – Seward Highway from Hope “Y”
to the South Fork of Kenai Lake 

Region 3 – Seward Highway and Resurrection Bay 

Region 6 – Kasilof River Drainage 

Region 7 – Homer
(Including Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Anchor River Drainages)

ADL #’s 63912, 201306, 227985, 201305, 229760, 55708, 55713, 55728, 227969, 227978, 227988, 227996, 53281, 55740, 55745, 55746, 64632, 206345, 206346, 206348, 206349, 217089, 222751, 227977, 227998, 228340 

The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued a Final Finding and Decision on the above areas containing 42,944 acres. 

This decision, dated February 24, 2015 will convey to the Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) 5,282 acres, conditionally convey and postpone conveyance of 3,369 acres and rejects the conveyance of 24,692 acres. In addition to these acres the KPB relinquished (removed from a selection application) 9,601 acres. 

After a significant KPB public outreach and review process DNR has completed the adjudication of our selections contained in these areas. DNR listed the reasons for conveyance and rejection of the land selections in the decision document. In review, DNR finds that lands must be properly classified with supporting management intent to be transferred to the KPB. DNR has decided that those lands that are inconsistent with DNR’s Kenai Area Plan, Kenai River Comprehensive Plan or where a state interest exists warrants state ownership to be retained. 

View DNR Maps, Final Findings & Decision Conveyance of Land      Posted February 24, 2015      http://dnr.alaska.gov/mlw/muni/ 

View Borough Maps of the Final Finding and Decision:

KAP Region 2 – Seward Highway from Hope 'Y' to the South End of Kenai Lake
Hope “Y” to Summit (pdf)
Moose Pass (pdf) 

KAP Region 3 – Seward and Resurrection Bay
Seward (pdf) 

KAP Region 6 – Kasilof River Drainage
Kasilof to Clam Gulch (pdf) 

KAP Region 7 – Homer (including Ninilchik River, Deep Creek, and Anchor River drainages)
Clam Gulch to Anchor Point (pdf)
Anchor Point to Kachamak Bay (pdf) 

Acreage breakdown of Regions 2, 3, 6, & 7 February 24, 2015 Decision:

Region 2, 3, 6, & 7 (33,343 acres)
8,651 acres to CONVEY, CONDITIONALLY CONVEY AND POSTPONE CONVEY
24,692 acres to REJECT

Region 2 – SEWARD HIGHWAY FROM HOPE “Y”, MOOSE PASS TO THE SOUTH FORK OF KENAI LAKE (9,104 acres EXISTING SELECTION)
3,258 acres to CONVEY, CONDITIONALLY CONVEY AND POSTPONE CONVEY
5,846 acres to REJECT           

Region 3 – SEWARD AND RESURRECTION BAY (3,323 acres EXISTING SELECTION)
757 acres to CONVEY
2,566 acres to REJECT           

Region 6 – KASILOF RIVER DRAINAGE (1,358 acres EXISTING SELECTION)
998 acres to CONVEY
360 acres to REJECT

Region 7 – HOMER INCLUDING NINILCHIK RIVER, DEEP CREEK, AND ANCHOR POINT (19,151 acres EXISTING SELECTION)
3,231 acres to CONVEY, CONDITIONALLY CONVEY AND POSTPONE CONVEY
15,920 acres to REJECT

Each selection requested by KPB will be reviewed by the State for consistency within existing policy and state statute A.S. 29.65.050(c). The State adjudicates each selection and makes a recommendation to approve, deny or conditionally approve the selection.

To accomplish the first step the State initiates an Interagency Review. This allows agencies (Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game, Parks and Rec, Transportation, etc.) to have the opportunity to review the selection and make comments.

The second step includes the public notice as required by AS 38.05.945 where the State of Alaska issues a Preliminary Decision. This notice invites public comment. A public notice will be posted in two locations, one of which is the State of Alaska web site. Only those persons who provide commentary on the Preliminary Decision are eligible to participate in the fourth step.

The third step includes the State reviewing the comments received in the second step prior to issuing a Final Finding and Decision formally rejecting or approving the selections.

The fourth step includes the State of Alaska issuing a Final Finding and Decision. This decision identifies what lands are conveyed to the borough and what lands the state retains. The Final Finding and Decision process provides a short period of time that allows for an eligible person or persons to request a reconsideration or stay of the Final Finding to the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. If reconsideration is not requested the Final Finding and Decision stands and goes into effect, thus transferring to the borough management authority of those lands conveyed.

The State has segregated the Kenai Peninsula Borough into 12 separate Kenai Area Plan (KAP) Regions. The follow KAP Regions have received a recent decision:

KAP REGIONS 2, 3, 6, & 7
Seward Highway from the Hope “Y” through Moose Pass to Seward and a portion of Resurrection Bay, and that area from Kasilof south including Clam Gulch, Ninilchik, Anchor Pont, Homer to the head of Kachemak Bay.
Final Finding and Decision Issued February 24, 2015
Corresponding Maps by Region:
KAP Region 2 - Hope “Y” to Summit
KAP Region 2 - Moose Pass
KAP Region 3 - Seward
KAP Region 6 - Kasilof to Clam Gulch
KAP Region 7 - Clam Gulch to Anchor Point
KAP Region 7 - Anchor Point to Kachamak Bay 
Copy of Final Decision

KAP REGIONS 1, 5, 8, & 9 
Hope, Point Possession to Kenai River, Upper Kachemak Bay & Fox River Flats, Southside Kachemak Bay & Chugiak Islands
Final Finding and Decision Issured January 23,2015
Corresponding Maps by Region:
KAP Region 1 – Hope (Including Sunrise and Turnagain Pass)
KAP Region 5 – Coastal Plain from Point Possession to Kenai River
KAP Region 8 – Upper Kachemak Bay and Fox River Flats
KAP Region 9 – South Side Kachemak Bay and Chugiak Islands 
Copy of Final Decision 

KAP Region 4
Cooper Landing Final Decision issued July 30, 2014
Final Decision with Special Exception to the Kenai Area Plan 
Final Decision Map