The arrival of the oil and gas industry could bring major infrastructure changes to Unalaska. How to plan for those changes was the primary focus of last night’s Planning Commission work session. City planning director Erin Reinders says the goal over the next year should be to develop a comprehensive land use plan, identifying areas where development should happen and areas where it’s off-limits.

“We’re each responsible for what we do on our property, but everything we do on our property impacts the entire community and the land use plan can help give a voice to the entire community about what happens with it.”

Reinders describes the land use plan as an intermediate step between doing nothing and the official process of zoning. She says it allows people to take a step back from immediate concerns about their own properties and look at the big picture.

The city might get help in the process from the American Planners Association. Reinders has already submitted an application to the organization for a ‘planning assistance team’ – a group of planners that would help the city, pro-bono, with its land use plan.

“I don’t know the intricacies of the oil and gas industry, of what those folks need and the different uses involved with that. This is an opportunity to find certain planners and professionals who can bring that to our community and I think that’s extremely valuable.”

If the bid for help from the APA doesn’t work out, Reinders says the city will bring in other outside consultants to help hammer out a plan that works for the community.