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Lands Committee opens review of several borough parcels including 16.389-acre Clarney/Canon Ballfield site
Summary
The committee asked staff to research utilities, wetlands, bedrock, ownership history and joint-use agreements for several borough parcels (including parcel 23766, called Clarney/Canon Ballfield), with the aim of determining whether any are suitable for surplus and housing development.
The Kodiak Island Borough Lands Committee on June 1 began an initial screening of several borough parcels, focusing its discussion on parcel 23766 (referred to in the meeting as Clarney Hills or the Canon Ballfield), a 16.389-acre site committee members said has central access and possible utility connections but also wetlands and bedrock that could drive up development costs.
Committee member Bo Whiteside described the parcel's attributes and estimated it could potentially accommodate "no less than 30 lots," depending on roadways, utilities and retained green space. Staff and other members urged caution: a borough staff member said the parcel had been purchased for a hospital site decades ago and has been used for recreation for about 25 years; other members flagged prior reviews (2016 and 2018) that recommended against sale because of drainage problems and substantial public opposition.
Members asked staff to investigate and return a memo addressing: the parcel's development history, exact acreage of wetlands and bedrock, utility connection feasibility (staff indicated new utility runs may be required rather than a simple hookup), any joint-use or storage agreements with the city, and prior planning-and-zoning findings. The committee expressed consensus to forward the screening matrix and specific questions to community development staff and to request a staff memo summarizing findings rather than make an immediate disposition decision.
The committee also reviewed two adjoining parcels (21512 and 21582) near Resnoff and Sherin Road. Members noted those lots were considered in 2016 and 2001 and were not advanced after planning-and-zoning review due to drainage issues and strong public opposition; the committee asked staff to provide the historical record explaining why prior efforts stalled. A separate 35-acre parcel (property 22050) was suggested as an additional candidate for staff review.
No final land disposals were authorized; members sought more information before any recommendation to planning and zoning.
"I would imagine no less than 30 lots," Whiteside said of parcel 23766, adding that staff should verify utilities, wetlands and bedrock before any forward recommendation. Staff said the borough must also honor joint-use obligations and notify the city if parcels used under agreements are deemed surplus.
