Proposition 5
Sisterhood Park Land Exchange
An ordinance submitting to the qualified voters of the Municipality of Anchorage at the Regular Municipal Election on April 6, 2010, a ballot proposition authorizing an equal value land exchange of 2.77 acres of Municipal land, including 1.90 acres M/L of dedicated park land in Sisterhood Park (south end of Tract 4, Crossroads Business Park Subdivision) exchange for 2.73 adjacent acres M/L in Tract 5B-1, Crossroads Business Park Subdivision.
The Municipality of Anchorage (MOA) and Orbus, Inc., a subsidiary of American Fast Freight (hereinafter AFF), propose a equal value land exchange as part of a road improvement project in the Spenard Area. The road project is known as the Van Buren Street/48th 4 Avenue Circulation and Access Improvements. A preliminary plat (S-11759) was approved on August 5, 2009 to effectuate these land trades and road vacations, and the rezone to create consistent zoning for the properties, by eliminating split zones on individual properties. The rezone was forwarded by the Planning and Zoning Commission with a recommendation for approval to the Assembly; the rezone was approved by the Assembly on January 12, 2010 (AO 2009-139 as amended). The rezone is contingent on the approval of this ballot proposition.
Two parcels are involved: The MOA owns Crossroads Business Park, Tract 4 and AFF owns Crossroads Business Park, Tract 5B-1.
The MOA trades 2.77 acres total, consisting of 1.90 acres M/L of dedicated park land in Tract 4 (Exhibit 1, Parcel A-1) and .87 acres of vacated ROW (Exhibit 1, Parcel A-2) to AFF.
In exchange, AFF trades 2.73 acres of land in Tract 5B-1 (Exhibit 1, Parcel B) to the MOA.
If the exchange is approved by the voters in April 2010, the MOA will dedicate the land received from AFF (Parcel B) as park, and the road project will fund the AM supporting ballot prop Page 2 of 2 Sisterhood Park land exchange relocation of Sisterhood Park soccer fields and build off-street parking for public and park users. This relocation protects Northwood Elementary School from further development, accommodates joint use of the park, eliminates problematic on-street parking by creating an off-street parking area, and contributes significantly to the continuity of park and natural areas, the school program and the community.
AFF plans to incorporate the MOA land (Parcels A-1 and A-2) with AFF property to the south, rezone to I-1 to match existing use and utilize for planned development consistent with the overall community plan, provide additional off street parking, an ongoing neighborhood concern, and develop for continued industrial land use.
Based upon older appraisals and square footage values provided by Dowl, the composition of the subsoil, the proximity of the parcels to each other, total acreage, and the MOA’s cost to replat and vacate the ROW (a necessary expense of the road project), the MOA and AFF agree the values of the parcels are substantially the same. As a result, both parties further agree no compensation shall be exchanged as a result of this transaction, and each party shall bear their own costs and fees. There is no cost to the taxpayers as a result of this land exchange between MOA and AFF.
In addition, the Planning & Zoning Commission, the Spenard Community Council, and the Anchorage School District all support the land exchange, and recommend its approval and placement on the April 2010 ballot by the Assembly.
This land exchange has no public sector cost
It is a valuable component for redevelopment around the Spenard Community Center, Sisterhood Park, Brotherhood Ball Field, and Northwood Elementary. The goal in the redevelopment is to separate American Fast Freight commercial truck traffic from the recreation and education facilities and uses in the immediate area, and provide off-street parking for those uses.
The land exchange has no private sector economic effects
It is a valuable piece of redevelopment for the Municipality, the community, the Anchorage School District, and American Fast Freight (AFF). The separation of AFF commercial trucks from a well used recreational area, and the addition of off-street parking, provides safety and traffic benefits to all.
