MEMORANDUM

To: Pete Sprague, Assembly President

Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Members

Thru: Dale Bagley, Mayor

Max Best, Planning Director

Paul Ostrander, Land Management Officer

From: Daniel Conetta, Land Management Technician

Date: May 8, 2003

Subject: Resolution to Classify Borough Land Located in the Anchor Point Area as Recreational and Government

The KPB received a petition from the Kachemak Gun Club (KGC) to classify Borough land in the Anchor Point area. The intent of the classification and preliminary plat (ITC--Anchor Point Subdivision) is to: (1) convey (lease or fee simple) Tract C to the Kachemak Gun Club for the development of a public shooting range, (2) convey (fee simple) Tract A to the State to stockpile material and store equipment for road maintenance purposes, and (3) lease Tract B to the State to allow continued operation of the communication tower. Pursuant to KPB 17.10.090, Borough land must be classified before interest in land can be sold or leased. Classification provides direction on how the borough should manage its land.

With a 2000 ballot proposition failing to establish the KPB South Peninsula Recreational Service Area (Ordinance 99-71), promoting recreational opportunities falls to volunteer organizations such as the KGC. The KGC is a nonprofit organization with approximately 100 members. The KGC abandoned their traditional site at Mile Post 163 of the Sterling Highway because they were unable to obtain the authority for management and site control. The KGC has sought other sites but has not found a suitable location.

Currently, the area used for public shooting at Mile Post 163 of the Sterling Highway is uncontrolled and unsafe. The proposed site at Mile Post 160 will be a controlled facility with a rangemaster on site with established shooting hours, gated access, fencing, and confined to one parcel. Beneficiaries of this facility will be the general public, hunters, and law enforcement agencies such as troopers, police, and the coast guard who will be able to complete their qualifications.

Pursuant to KPB 17.10.080 public notice was published and notification was sent by regular mail to all owners and/or leaseholders of record within a one-half mile radius of the parcel proposed for classification, applicable agencies, and interested parties. Seventeen notices were mailed and, as of the writing of this memo, four written comments were received.

On March 7, 2000 the Anchor Point Advisory Planning Commission (APAPC) held a public meeting and recommended support of the shooting range. On January 11, 2003 the APAPC held a land classification special meeting, and a motion to classify the subject parcel as Recreational with a resource management overlay and an amended motion for a Government classification around the communication tower carried unanimously. On April 8, 2003 the APAPC held a public meeting and concurred with staff recommendations regarding the shooting range.

The KPB Planning Commission held a public hearing April 28, 2003, and a motion to recommend classification of Tract C as Recreational and Tracts A and B as Government passed by unanimous consent.