On Thursday night, the city’s planning commission met to get feedback on a few potential changes to Unalaska’s building requirements. City staff was looking forward to discussing a proposal that could reduce the minimum lot size requirement and open up more land for development. However, little of the public testimony focused on that.

The commission instead got an earful about a proposed change that would create a 10-foot easement along the perimeter of all new lots. That space would then allow the city to make utility upgrades and perform maintenance work with greater ease. But it would also require property owners to keep a substantial portion of their lots clear and prevent them from developing that space out.

Resident Coe Whittern was one of the handful of residents who commented on the proposal. He took issue with it because these easement would allow the city to access people’s land at no cost.

“This is private property, and you’re taking something away from the private property owner. This isn’t supposed to be socialism. If you’re going to take something, you need to buy it,” says Whittern.

Because the meeting was a public hearing, the planning commission primarily listened to testimony rather than respond to it.

City council is expected to take up these proposals in January.