October 07, 2010
Thursday

We all need to be aware of a threat to a valued and historically used area known as Coast Guard Beach. It is the longest stretch of sandy beach close to the Ketchikan road system. The land is owned by The State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, so it belongs to us all.

But, due to flawed policies of our State and federal governments, it has been given for management to a division of the State, the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. This group of State employees is charged with revenue production for the narrow interest of funding the Trust Authority s programs. Even though it is aware of the locally prized value of this land, it has chosen to ignore the community and is now proposing a rezone from the existing Public Lands and Institutions zone to residential zoning. This would begin a process of dividing the parcel into house lots. The Planning commission will consider the rezone request on October 12.

Ketchikan Beaches Association is a group of citizens concerned with the retention of waterfront recreation sites available to the public. KBA has created an informational handout that describes the property in its neighborhood setting, its history, ongoing activities and possibilities and the present threat. This can be read or downloaded from the KBA website at ketchikanbeaches.org. In the Upcoming Events box click on Read the Community Vision for Coast Guard Beach . Please read it and make your views known to the Planning Commission and Borough Assembly.

Eric Muench
Ketchikan, AK

About: "A member of Ketchikan Beaches Association wanting to keep valuable public lands public"

Received October 06 , 2010 - Published October 07, 2010

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