Anchorage Daily News
Published: March 2, 2006
Still involved after nine years of controversy, scores of Anchorage residents turned out Wednesday for hearings on a proposed Coastal Trail extension. Trail advocates, South Anchorage property owners and wildlife proponents were among them.
The project would take the existing Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which goes from downtown to Kincaid Park, 14 miles farther to Potter Weigh Station. A final route recommendation and environmental report was released in February.
Views expressed on the report Wednesday ranged from way in favor to angrily against.
"The insanity has to stop," said one project opponent, Wayne Pichon, whose family lives near the southern route.
On the other hand, travel writer and former Anchorage Assemblyman Charles Wohlforth said the extension would make the trail "a world-class attraction."
About 100 people came to an afternoon hearing at the Egan Civic & Convention Center, and more were scheduled for the evening.
The project has fallen out of favor with the majority of the Anchorage Assembly. First the Assembly voted not to include the trail extension in a long-range transportation plan. Then it voted to forbid condemnation of private property for trails and parks, a move that would hamper completion of the trail.
Even so, a multi-government process to finish the report grinds on. The Federal Highway Administration will issue an approval to build the trail, or not, sometime after March 27.
The trail extension is unlikely to get any funding in the near future, but some say segments could be built, for example, in conjunction with adjacent road projects.
Regardless of the bureaucratic business, the project still captures public interest.
Of the first 15 speakers, eight indicated they are against building the trail as proposed, six said they like it, and one delivered specific criticisms but didn't say one way or the other about the whole project.
Some of those against said the trail will disturb birds and mammals in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge.
Vivian Mendenhall, representing the Anchorage Audubon Society, said the local chapter has concluded that the latest route is improved but would still have too much effect on wildlife. Some birds would probably abandon their nests because of the disturbance, she said.
Sandhill cranes nest near the coastal bluffs, she said. Anchorage Audubon might support a different route, she said.
To recommend a trail near the refuge, the Federal Highway Administration had to decide that it had minimal effect on the refuge, and it did reach that decision.
Other opponents cited costs or effects on private property.
The latest route proposal cut the price from earlier versions, to $26.5 million, and reduced the number of private parcels the trail would cross.
But not enough to satisfy everyone.
"The initial cost is very high," said Ann Scally, who lives along the trail route. "I'm not sure where the money will come from. ... If there is money available, I'd like to drive on better roads." She said she also would like to see more sidewalks instead of more Coastal Trail.
Leland Little, who also lives near the route, also said the trail would cost too much. And, he said, "this trail is designed for a select minority. Taking of private property is inherently wrong ... when it's intended for use of a select minority."
Some of those in favor of the trail also live near it.
Eric McCallum said he sees his property values rising because of the trail close to his property. And, he said, "it's a great thing for the community."
Robin Smith lives on a South Anchorage bluff but said the nearest natural trail is about 1 1/2 miles away in Johns Park. She said she wants the Coastal Trail extension. "We all need to compromise," she said.
Gordon Wetzel, president of the Nordic Skiing Association of Anchorage, said the association has minor concerns about the new trail crossing ski trails in Kincaid, but "they're not showstoppers. ... The project overall is valuable and important to the community."
A pedestrian bridge to take the Coastal Trail over ski trails would solve the problem, Wetzel said.