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Assembly asks lands committee to review borough parcels for workforce housing, including Killarney Hills
Summary
The assembly directed the borough lands committee to package candidate parcels near town for evaluation and prioritization for potential disposal or development to address workforce housing; members cited Killarney Hills (parcel 23766), Sheraton/Rezanoff-area lots and Russian Ridge access as initial suggestions.
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly asked its lands committee at the May 14 work session to assemble and evaluate borough-owned parcels that could be prioritized for workforce and higher-density housing.
Mayor/presiding officer opened the lands discussion by asking the assembly for direction so the lands committee could spend its time efficiently. Members suggested several candidate parcels and broad policy goals: prioritize borough land in or near urban Kodiak, favor workforce or mid-density housing rather than remote subdivisions, and retain open-space buffers near lakes and recreation resources.
Assembly members called out parcel 23766 (Killarney Hills, also called Cannonball Field) as a central, relatively flat site close to schools and medical facilities; members noted potential water/sewer constraints but said it should be evaluated. Other parcels identified for initial review included parcels near the Sheraton/Rezanoff loop (parcel numbers discussed) and properties adjacent to the Russian Ridge trail/road bed that may be easier to develop.
Manager Amy Williams and Community Development Director Chris French said the lands committee's next step will be to compile a prioritized list and that staff can coordinate with city public-works staff to assess site-specific sewer, water and lift-station needs. "If we want the lands committee to focus, tell them the area and the purpose," Williams said, suggesting the committee examine higher-density neighborhood options and developer requirements that encourage compact housing.
Why it matters: several assembly members framed land disposition as one of the practical levers the borough can use to address housing and workforce shortages while noting infrastructure and long-term capital costs. Staff emphasized that feasibility checks (utility extensions, lift-station capacity and road access) are necessary before parcels can move from study to disposition.
What was decided: the assembly asked members to identify candidate parcels and directed staff to prepare memos for the lands committee and for public works to evaluate capacity and site-specific issues; the lands committee will return recommendations and prioritization to the assembly for further action.
Next steps: staff and the lands committee will prepare feasibility memos and rank parcels; assemblymembers were invited to submit suggestions for the committee to review.
