Following Reconsideration Girdwood delivers no vote on Glacier Creek Development

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

The Girdwood Board of Supervisors voted again on a controversial plan by Alyeska Resort owner Pomeroy Lodging to carve a subdivision out of public land near Glacier Creek.

This time, the Board voted against Phase 4 of Pomeroy's proposed master plan, which includes a road and housing in a popular recreational area and is designated "open space" in the community's latest comprehensive plan.

"I felt conflicted," GBOS Co-Chair Briana Sullivan wrote in an email. During the reconsideration meeting, Sullivan switched her vote to no after voting yes during Monday's meeting.

During Monday's meeting board members voted 3-2 in favor of an amendment that would endorse development in the upper valley. Supervisors Brian Burnett and Jennifer Wingard joined a 22-2 consensus of participants in a land use meeting a week earlier that approved all phases of Pomeroy's development, but excluded the Glacier Creek phase. 

Without gaining access to develop the municipal land, a Pomeroy manager has said the other phases are not viable.

"I did not think our board's vote would turn out the way it did," Sullivan wrote. "The outcome did not sit well with me after the meeting and the following day.  My motion to reconsider would give the body a chance to apply our rules and procedures, which is a basic practice in local government, to essentially redo our vote from Monday in case anyone wanted to change their vote and thus the outcome."

Critics of the Glacier Creek phase said the old-growth rainforest area—popular for recreational cross-country skiing, hiking, mushroom foraging and berry picking—have led to its designation as "open space", setting up a conflict over future use of the public land, which is managed by Anchorage's Heritage Land Bank.

The all-season recreational area is popular for residents and visitors who cross-country skiing, hiking, mushroom foraging and berry pick. (Photos by Soren Wuerth)

But Willam Laurie, Pomeroy's development manager, said the development, with mixed housing, nordic trails, a warming hut, parking and a lateral gondola to its hotel serves the community's interest. He said the planned subdivision would include smaller, more affordable housing units.

Supervisor Mike Edgington, who along with Guy Wade voted twice in favor of Pomeroy's plan, said although there is a "contradiction" between Alyeska's master plan and the community's area plan, he thinks Pomeroy's general goals are good and details can be ironed out along the way.

"There are many moving parts here," he said. " ... I think the general goals are solid. The location should be changed, and that could be argued later."

On Feb. 23, the Anchorage Assembly voted to dispose of HLB land on the other side of Glacier Creek—the so-called "Holtan Hills" area—despite widespread opposition from Girdwood residents and dozens of Anchorage community councils. 

In changing her vote, Sullivan cited the "extensive outreach, engagement, and vested interest" in the comprehensive plan. That plan is nearing approval and could be adopted as early as this coming fall.

"I feel GBOS more accurately represents our community with a 3-2 vote in the favor of support of Phases 1-3 and not full support of Phase 4 as presented.  We represent all of Girdwood," Sullivan stated.

The plan's application status can be found here, https://www.muni.org/CityViewPortal/Planning/Status?planningId=17999.

The nordic ski trails are some of the most premier in the area and used throughout the seasons for various recreational activities.