Submitted by: Assemblymember COFFEY

                                                                        Prepared by: Department of Assembly

                                                                        For reading: October 18th, 2005

 

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

AO NO. 2005-_____

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBLY AMENDING THE FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK MASTER PLAN TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOUND IN SECTION 4: “MITIGATION MEASURES” AND SECTION 5: “PROHIBITED USES” AS SET FORTH IN AO 2002-165 AND TO PROVIDE FOR MULTIPLE USES OF THE FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK.

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THE ANCHORAGE ASSEMBY ORDAINS:

 

            Section 1:   The Updated Far North Bicentennial Park Master Plan, is hereby amended to delete the section titled “Mitigation measures” as set forth in AO 2002-165. The deleted section is as follows:

 

 SECTION 4: MITIGATION MEASURES.

 

WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF ENCACTMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE, THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER AND RECOMMEND SUCH MEASURES AS IT DEEMS APPROPRIATGE TO MITIGATE THE LOSS OF NATURAL OPEN SPACE PARK LAND TO DEVELOPMENT OF A BALL FIELD COMPLEX REQUIRED BY THIS ORDINANCE. IT IS THE INTENT OF THE ASSEMBLY THAT MITIGATION MEASURES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISION BE CAPABLE OF IMPLEMENTTATION WITHINT TWENTY-FOUR MONTHS OF ENACTMENT OF THIS ORDINANCE. IN THIS SECTION “MITIGATION” MEANS THE TRANSFER OF LAND TO PARK STATUS AND EXEMPTION OF SUCH LAND FROM FUTURE CLEARING, FILING OR DEVELOPMENT OR OTHER SUCH ACTIONS AS WILL ACCOMPLISH THE OBJECTIVES STATED BELOW. LAND TRANSFERRED SHOULD BE OF COMPARABLE ECOLOGICAL AND NATURAL VALUE, AND SUCH BE SITUATED TO ALLOW INCLUSION IN FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK THROUGH FUTURE REVISION OF THE PARK PLAN. THE OBJECTIOS OF MITIGATION ARE TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY AND CONTINUANCE OF FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK AS PUBLIC LANDS WITH THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF PRESERVING THOSE LANDS IN AS NATURAL A STATE AS POSSIBLE AND ALLOWING FOR THE PURLIC ENJOYMENT OF THE SAME.

 

IF RECOMMENDED, MITIGATION MEASURES INCLUDE TRANSFER OF PLI LAND ADJACENT TO BICENTENNIAL PARK IDENTIFIED IN THE UPDATED FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK PLAN AS “PLI-3’. WHILE CONTAINING EXTENSIVE WETLANDS, THIS TRACT ALSO CONTAINS LIMITED UPLANDS SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THOSE TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE SOURTHWEST CORNER OF THE PARK. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE NOTE ACCESSIBLE BY ROAD THIS TRACT CONTAINS A SIGNIFICANT TRAIL SYSTEM PRIMARILY FOR DOG MUSHING IN WINTER AND MULTI-USE IN SUMMER. THE NATURAL AND ECOLOGICAL VFALUE, THE NATURAL OPEN SPACE RECREATION VALUE, AND THE LACK OF ROAD ACCESS ALL MAKE THIS TRACT NOT ONLY A STORNG CHOICE FOR MITIGATION, BY MAY ALSO WARRANT THE ADDED PROTECTION OF INCLUSION WITHIN THE PARK FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE GENERATIONOS SIMPLY ON ITS OWN MERITS.

 

            Section 2:     The Far North Bicentennial Park Master Plan as  amended by AO 2002-165 by the addition of land to the section entitled “Prohibited Uses” ,is hereby amended to read:

 

            PROHIBITED USES:

 

In view of potential degradation of the park, as a measure of public safety, and consistent with the objectives of this Far North Bicentennial Park Master Plan to 1) maintain the lands described in perpetuity as a public park for the benefit of the citizens of Alaska; 2) to preserve the streambeds, watershed areas and wildlife habitat in as pristine a condition as possible allowing for compatible use of the area for nature appreciation by the public; and 3) to provide regulations and controls which will accomplish these objectives and insure the continuous maintenance of these lands [IN A NEARLY NATURAL STATE] in a nearly natural state for the benefit of future generations the following uses are prohibited:

 

Section 3: The Far North Bicentennial Park Master Plan is amended by deleting the following language added to the Plan under the section entitled “Prohibited Uses” by AO 2002-165

 

5.                  GIVEN THE EXTENT OF DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE PARK, INCLUDING SIGNIFICANT REVISION OF THE PLAN TO ALLOW EXTENSIVE SPORTS FIELD DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE PARK, AND GIVEN DEVELOPMENT IN ADJACENT PLI LAND CONVEYED TO THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE WITH THE PARK; NO FURTHER CLEARING OF LAND OR DRAINING OF FILILING OF WETLANDS SHALL BE ALLOWED WITHIN FAR NORTH BICENTENNIAL PARK.

 

Section 4: The Far North Bicentennial Park Master Plan is amended by adding the following language under the section entitled “Prohibited Uses” as item number 5 in the section which was added by AO 2002-165 under the sub title “The enumeration of prohibited uses in this Plan shall not prevent or restrict the following activities:”

 

5.      Such other activities as may be provided for in this Plan or as may be provided for by amendments to this Plan.

 

Section 5: The Far North Bicentennial Park Master Plan is amended by deleting the following language under the section entitled “Prohibited Uses” by AO 2002-165.

THE RESTRICTIONS ABOVE SHALL TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER ALL

OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS PLAN.

 

Section 6: The provisions of this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval.

 

 PASSED AND APPROVED by the Anchorage Assembly this _______ day of _______________, 2005.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    _________________________

Chair

 

ATTEST:

 

 

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Municipal Clerk