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Commission approves conditional use permit for Kenai Lake setback fill, asks for moose‑safe revegetation
Summary
The Planning Commission granted DOT a conditional use permit to place fill within the 50‑foot habitat protection setback at Kenai Lake for a Sterling Highway realignment, and amended the resolution to request that replanted trees avoid willow and birch to reduce moose attraction.
The Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commission voted Dec. 8 to grant a conditional use permit (PC Resolution 2025‑32) allowing placement of fill within the 50‑foot habitat protection setback at Kenai Lake for the Alaska Department of Transportation’s Sterling Highway Safety Corridor project.
Planner Morgan Aldridge summarized the application: the DOT project would add about 5,500 cubic yards of structural gravel and relocate roughly 300 cubic yards of topsoil to meet highway safety and design standards; the applicant anticipates starting work in June 2026 and completing it in August 2027. Public notice was mailed to property owners within 300 feet; the Cooper Landing Advisory Planning Commission reviewed and unanimously recommended approval but asked that replanted trees be species not attractive to moose.
Commissioner Morgan proposed an amendment to the motion to request that the project avoid planting willow, birch and other moose‑attractive species in the revegetation plan. Staff (Morgan Aldridge) noted borough code requires replanted trees be native species but does not dictate specific species; the commission voted to add the request as an amendment and then approved the conditional use permit with the amended language.
No members of the public testified on this item, and the motion passed by roll call. The permit carries the staff‑recommended conditions included in the draft resolution.
What happens next: staff will incorporate the amended revegetation request into the permit conditions and the DOT project team will coordinate tree species selection during final design and permitting.
