The Juneau City and Borough Committee of the Whole on Nov. 3 directed staff to prepare a scope of work, process and budget for a West Douglas master plan and return that proposal to the committee.

The assembly took the step after Director Lawhorn told members the comprehensive plan identifies parts of West Douglas as new growth areas but that the city has not yet received a formal application from Gold Belt Corporation LLC. "As of today, still no application has been submitted," Lawhorn said, urging that any conditional‑use permit application be complete and include commitment letters for water, sewer and other services.

Why it matters: West Douglas and the Gold Belt proposal could add substantial developable land outside the urban service area, creating questions about infrastructure, emergency services and the fiscal impacts on borough taxpayers. Staff said a city‑led master plan would help the borough set policy and protect CBJ interests across future phases of development.

The assembly also debated a separate motion to direct the manager’s office to draft a memorandum of understanding with Gold Belt Corporation LLC addressing workforce housing, emergency services, public infrastructure and transportation. Several members urged caution, calling the MOU premature without a complete application and clearer scope. The motion failed on a roll call vote of 5 yeas and 5 nays; the chair declared the motion failed.

Votes and next steps: The motion to direct staff to prepare the master‑plan scope was adopted without recorded opposition; staff will return to committee with a scope, likely including possible budget needs and a public‑engagement plan. After staff presents a scope of work and cost estimates, the assembly said it expects further discussion on timing, staffing and how the planning commission’s conditional‑use review would intersect with a city‑led master planning effort.

What staff said: Lawhorn noted that phased development may proceed while a master plan is drafted, but stressed the importance of complete applications and commitment letters so the planning commission can set appropriate conditions. She told the assembly that conditional‑use permit review can take about three months once an application is deemed complete and that commitment letters from utilities and public‑works providers can be required through the CUP process.

The assembly did not adopt any MOU language and did not make policy changes to land‑use code at this meeting; both the scope and any MOU concept were described as items staff will bring back for future committee consideration.