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Feasibility study finds access to Blueberry Hill parcel achievable; assembly reminded purchase was preauthorized
Summary
A feasibility study attached to the June 17 Lands Committee meeting found three possible road alignments to provide access to an 80-acre parcel the borough is under contract to buy for $1,200,000; the study recommended Alignment 3 (South Loop) as most feasible but noted additional engineering is required.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Lands Committee received the completed Blueberry Hill road-access feasibility study on June 17. Staff presented three possible road alignments for providing access through an 80-acre parcel the borough is under contract to purchase for $1,200,000.
Land management officer Aaron Hughes said the study identified three potential options. He said Alignment 3, referred to in the study as the South Loop alignment, was the most feasible because it better takes advantage of topography and provides more valuable access to neighboring lands, though it traverses a substantial portion of Mental Health Trust land. Hughes said all three alignments meet borough road standards but the preferred alignment would require additional engineering and design work before proceeding with any planned road development.
Assembly members asked whether the identified feasibility affects the borough's obligation to purchase the 80 acres. Assembly Member Kelly noted the assembly previously passed Ordinance 2024-19-24 authorizing the purchase conditioned on completion of the study and mayoral review. Hughes confirmed the ordinance authorized the purchase subject to completion of the study and mayoral approval.
When asked whether the borough could buy less than 80 acres because the recommended road uses only a small portion of that tract, Hughes said the purchase agreement requires acquisition of the full 80 acres; however, he added that acquiring the 80-acre tract could create surplus property the borough could sell in the future.
Hughes told the committee the study was provided as a laydown in the committee materials and recommended further engineering before any development. No formal committee vote on subsequent actions was recorded in the transcript excerpt.
