Public Access across Wolverine Creek

Following the July 10, 2008 LMCC regular meeting Chair Sykes invited DNR to present on resolving trail access issues involving public access and a RS2477 easement. You can read the initial invitation letter here.

View a map of proposed routes:

You can read follow up email correspondence with the borough and Chickaloon Tribe below.

—– Original Message —– 
From: Singer, Sandra J (DNR)
To: jsykes@ak.net
Cc: Cox, Clark A (DNR) ; Mylius, Richard H (DNR)
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008 10:03 AM
Subject: Invitation to present to Lazy Mt Community Council August 14, 2008

Good afternoon Mr Sykes:

Dick Mylius forwarded your invitation to the Southcentral Region Office 
regarding the above council meeting.  Unfortuanately, we do not have staff 
available to attend on that date because of other commitments.

With regard to the question in your email:  “LMCC wishes to clarify whether 
and how the RS2477 easement can be moved to the nearby section lines, or 
other nearby locations”  I can offer the following comments.

Both the RST and the section line easements have been confirmed as legal 
rights to consider for development.  Relocation is not required for the 
development of the section line in option 4 to occur.  Vacation/Relocation 
of the RST can be accomplished independently.  However, if combining the two 
is agreed upon by the parties as you work through the options in your 
ongoing discussions with the Chickaloon representatives the RST (100′) can 
theoretically be relocated to align with the Section Line (varying widths, 
but generally 50′ on either side of the section line on state land), through 
a concurrent public process that involves the borough and the state. The 
presence and width of a section line will need to be confirmed to ensure 
that you have a dedication on both sides in order for the relocation to 
generally be considered equal or better alternative access as required. 
Other aspects of the alternative location we consider include the stage of 
development and usability compared to what is being vacated.  Section lines 
are based on a grid that don’t take topography into account, the RST’s 
generally are located on more topographically accessible routes.

Relocation could involve a requirement to improve the section line beyond 
what exists for the RST presently to compensate for a less topographically 
usable location on an undeveloped section line.  The process is time 
consuming and DNR currently has a backlog of easement vacation applications, 
so please anticipate that this option will take at least a year to complete.

Let me know if you have any additional questions as the discussions between 
the parties move forward.  Thank you.

=================

2008August 4, 
2008

Jim Sykes, Chair
Lazy Mountain Community Council
PO Box 696
Palmer, AK 99645

Ms. Sandra Singer, Land Division, Alaska DNR
550 W. 7th Ave., Suite 1070
Anchorage, AK 99501-3579

RE: Access issues near Wolverine Lake including RST 447

Dear Ms. Singer,

Thank you for your email. It is regrettable that no one from DNR can attend 
Lazy Mountain Community Council’s (LMCC) meeting on August 14, 2008. Can 
you, or someone representing DNR, attend the next scheduled LMCC meeting 
after on September 11, 2008 at 6:30 p.m? If the September date doesn’t work 
please suggest other available dates in late August or September. LMCC can 
hold a special meeting in addition to our regular monthly meetings if 
necessary. It would be good to know from DNR how various options might work 
through the various steps in the process. Your email will be provided at the 
August 14 meeting and on the LMCC website (www.lazymountaincc.org).

It appears we have a propitious moment when diverse interests are converging 
towards an acceptable access solution near Wolverine Lake. LMCC and its 
members are willing to work with Nay’Dini’aa Na’ Chickaloon Village 
Traditional Council, Mat-Su Borough, other agencies, officials, and 
legislators as is practicable.

I cannot speak for what action the Council might take on August 14th. In the 
recent past, we have formed a subcommittee of most affected parties to work 
with other interests and agencies. The most recent attempt at 
problem-solving was successful. We look forward to a substantive meeting 
soon as well as your assistance in resolving this problem.

Sincerely,
Jim Sykes, LMCC Chair
745-6962

Attachment:  Proposed routes including section line route alternative 4, 
yellow dotted line.

=================

Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 12:39 PM
Subject: RE: Invitation to present to Lazy Mt Community Council August 14, 
2008

Thank you for your scheduling flexibility.  I can tentatively plan on
Sept 11.  I would appreciate hearing the outcome of the August meeting
in order to understand what information would be most helpful to you as
your discussions proceed.
========================

Hello Ms. Singer–

We hope to learn additional information at our August meeting and the LMCC 
will forward questions that you may be able to help answer at the September 
meeting.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Jim Sykes, LMCC
745-6962