The Mid-Hillside Community Council and the Hillside East Community Council advocate and support construction of the south Extension of the Coastal Trail in a location that is along the coast and is as similar in character to the existing trail as possible.
Of the routes currently being considered, the Original Orange or the Orange Modified routes come closest to the character of the existing trail.
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement shows that the Orange Modified route has no significant impact on wildlife habitat in the Coastal Wildlife Refuge; and this route avoids crossing the refuge, as well as all hunting areas, the moto-cross area, and the Rifle Range.
The Orange Modified Route comes closer to homes than the Original Orange Route; therefore, the impacts to private property should be further evaluated and reduced where possible, through a fair balance between impacts to homeowners, habitat, and other users of the land, while retaining the coastal location and character of the new trail.
This resolution was approved at the combined meeting of the Mid-Hillside and Hillside East Community Councils on February 20, 2003. The meeting was advertised through the monthly newsletter, the Councils' website and in the Anchorage Daily News. This resolution modifies and replaces the Resolution on the Southern Extension of the Coastal Trail of October 17, 2002.