Mat-Su planning panel approves 5‑acre classification for consolidated fire station near Bogard Road

The Matanuska‑Susitna Borough Planning Commission on Dec. 2 approved Resolution 24‑34, recommending that five acres of a 60‑acre borough parcel be classified for development as a public safety facility to consolidate two fire stations and operations with access onto Bogard Road.

The classification would allow the borough’s emergency services to combine Fire Station 52 (Maynard Public Safety Building at Bogard and Engstrom) and Station 65 (Cottonwood Fire Station on the Palmer‑Wasilla Highway) into one new, larger station. Lisa Gray, the borough’s land management agent, told the commission the fire service area board unanimously supported moving forward and that full funding is available next fiscal year from the emergency services fund.

Gray said the proposal would classify five acres of the borough’s 60‑acre holding for the facility; the remaining 55 acres would remain unclassified. “This is a proposal to classify 5 acres of a 60 acre parcel. Emergency services planning to combine 2 fire stations and relocate it,” she said. Gray added that emergency vehicles generally wait to use lights and sirens until they are on the roadway: “They don’t come out of the fire station with their lights on and their sirens on. They wait till they get down the road.”

The staff site investigation included distance estimates between existing stations and the proposed site: Station 65 would be about 1.5 miles from the new location and Station 52 about 3.4 miles. Gray told the commission the station could handle an estimated six to 10 calls per day if an ambulance is colocated; if configured as fire only, she said it would run about three to five calls per day. Groundbreaking is anticipated in the borough fiscal year that begins July 2025.

Public concerns submitted in the packet—three comments—raised siren and light noise, a desire to keep the area as greenbelt, increased traffic, property‑value effects and light pollution. Gray told commissioners public works considered traffic and future access; the five‑acre layout was aligned across from Tate Road so a future traffic signal could be used for safer turning movements if the road is extended and signalized.

Commissioners discussed insurance and property‑value effects and whether the administrative offices at Station 65 would remain; staff confirmed administrative functions would remain at the Station 65 location while fire response would be consolidated to the new facility. The commission voted to approve Resolution 24‑34. Commissioner Fernandez moved the measure; Commissioner McCabe seconded. No objections were raised and the resolution passed unanimously.

Additional context: the borough’s 2023 assessed value for the entire 60‑acre parcel was $894,700, a figure referenced during discussion when commissioners asked about fair market value and assessment amounts.