Residents Upset Over Wetlands Development
Tuesday, November 20 2012
Bulldozer Infilling Pond/Credit: Stephanie Joyce
Given the housing shortage in Unalaska, one would expect a proposal to build new housing would be well-received --but that isn’t the case with a proposed project next to the high school. Some local residents are upset that the development involves filling in a pond.
The lot is owned by Glenn Olson and Archie Stepp. Stepp couldn’t be reached and Olson wouldn’t comment for this story, but he told the Army Corps of Engineers he intends to build an 8-plex on the property.
Corps project manager Jack Hewitt:
“The Corps verified the project under Nationwide Permit 29, which is residential developments, which allows up to half an acre of fill in waters of the U.S., for residential projects.”
Hewitt says so long as Olson and Stepp stick to filling in less than 60 percent of the lot, they should be in compliance with their permit. But the fact that it’s legal isn’t reassuring to Nancy Luff, who says she was dismayed to see bulldozers pushing gravel into the pond last week.
“I see ducks over there and I’ve always passed and loved that wetland. And it’s by the school and the kids get to walk by there and see ducks right in town.”
Long-time resident Abi Woodbridge says she takes issue with the project because it’s part of a longer-term trend of filling in the wetlands near town.
“We just really need to reestablish some of the natural habitats here and get our fish back. People have to drive all the way out to Wislow to get red salmon, when this lake should be enough to support the city twice over.”
The pond hasn’t been directly connected to Unalaska Lake for decades. According to Woodbridge, a city roads crew covered up the linking culvert during a road expansion project in the 1990s.
“I was standing right there when they just covered the culvert. Salmon couldn’t get in or out anymore and the fish died off. Now it’s a wonderful habitat for raising ducks. The eagles can’t get down there and get them.”
Other residents are concerned about how the project could impact their properties. Kathy Grimnes lives next to the pond and she says it’s part of the flood zone for Unalaska Lake.
“I’ve seen the lake – that little pond-lake, whatever you call – it’s been up to the road bed there at least a couple of times that I recall.”
Grimnes is concerned that without the pond, that water could end up on her property. She also has questions about Olson and Stepp filling in the surrounding land, which belongs to the city. City officials couldn’t be immediately reached for comment.**
This isn’t the first time a developer has tried to fill in the lot. Olson and Stepp bought the property in April from Timothy Spernak. In the 1990s Spernak had also applied to fill in the wetlands, but his permit was denied. Documents from that time period indicate that he didn’t have specific plans to develop it, which is a condition of receiving Army Corps approval.
Olson and Stepp can’t immediately develop the property either. It’s currently zoned “holding” by the city of Unalaska and would need to be rezoned to “high-density residential” before any structures could be built. The rezoning process has to go through the Planning and Zoning Commission and ultimately be approved by City Council.
** In a later conversation with City Manager Chris Hladick, he said without looking at the property lines he couldn't confirm that city property is being filled, but added, "had they asked us if they could put fill in across our property, we more than likely would have said yes because we want to promote housing in this community."
good idea on Saturday, December 08 2012:
now were talking!
Jimmy Whimmy on Tuesday, November 27 2012:
Arcie is a rich man, so he should build a skyscraper with housing units and a bar with a strip club on the top floor
long time resident Dutch Harbor/Unalaska on Saturday, November 24 2012:
The native corporation owns alot of land here on our island.
How about this win win situation. Give (sell) us some land/lots and we will give you some money.
The native corporation was give a generous amount of land. Please share. We need help too.
Uknowmeindutchharbor on Friday, November 23 2012:
Blame the native corp for not opening up more land for development.
I guess giving up more for us will give less to them
Afterthought on Thursday, November 22 2012:
Nice job Mr. Hladick.
long time resident on Thursday, November 22 2012:
Yes building more houseing is needed. But keeping our Earth abd this island environmentally friendly is needed too. Keep our Earth in balance. Yes at one time not too long ago Salmon were able to spawn there in that pond.
There are other places to build housing with flat lots already; In the valley just past Steward Road many flat lots where cabanas use to stand, flat lots on Strawberry Hill just above East Point town houses. where I use to live. Yes we need utilities to these lots. The City of Unalaska can do this.
Can not the Corporation release and sell some of their land/lots? These lots are good places to live with little to no negative impact on our islands environment.
A benifit to building on places like these is also flood proof and tsunami proof. Our earths climate is changing.
Dee Kirchhofer on Thursday, November 22 2012:
The drainage issues on Cathy Grimnes's lots have probly become an issue due to the road in front of her being higher than her lots. If the city needs to raise the roads for better road drainage then they should also install proper drainage. This is a whole different matter. (and P.S. I'm for more housing)
inUnalaskafor15years+ on Thursday, November 22 2012:
I am all for leaving a nice balance of wetlands, parks, greenways, etc. in the city. It is a healthy thing and I appreciate the ducks that sometimes visit this small pond. That said,this town is in dire need of more housing and this lot is already private property. How about certain corporations free up some of the buildable land for development/housing and then the city (with input from local residents)designate where future wetlands, etc will be retained and zone them as such.
Unalaska resident on Wednesday, November 21 2012:
My vote is for the 8 plex..the ducks will find a different spot to land. I am so tired of not having any options as far as places to rent. When one bedrooms are going for $1,600 a month plus utilities...its no wonder people dont even conceive of staying on this island for any length of time. Yes we do make great money here and by the time all bills are paid - we are left with nothing. I say people first and ducks second!!!
Johnathan Romero on Wednesday, November 21 2012:
Fill baby fill. Build baby build.
Nancy Luff on Wednesday, November 21 2012:
I believed that wetlands were protected and the pond was an obvious wetland. It surprised me when the pond and wetlands were being filled. I learned a permit for filing a half acre of the wetlands was given and is based on putting residential housing on the fill. The wetlands and pond are not zoned residential. I believe filling in the wetlands/pond is putting "the horse before the cart". Before filling in the wetlands/pond on a permit for residential housing I think it would be necessary for Planning and Zoning to approve a change to the zoning. I believe there will be public comment at that time, there was no local public notice from the Corp of Engineers before they issued their permit.
I believe that housing is important in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor but so are wetlands. The pond is a naturally occurring wetland, it was part of the lake. I too, remember there being fish in the pond and the level of pond rising and falling with the lake before the culvert was covered up by the city. In 1994, when Spernak's request to fill the wetlands and pond was denied, the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife recommended the culvert be restored and the wetlands not be compromised further.
Cathy Grimnes has reason to be concerned with the filling of the pond and wetlands as she has experienced water damage on her property from runoff. Parts of HUD housing have flooded. Wetlands absorb water. Besides being habitat for ducks and birds the pond and surrounding wetlands help protect the area from flooding.
I hope that Archie and Glenn do build housing on dry land. Maybe the city could change some dry land on Haystack for the wetlands/pond. The wetlands/pond is surrounded by city land. I am not against development, I am for protecting the pond and wetlands, when they are gone, they are gone.
Sincerely Nancy Luff
Unalaskan & nearly homeless on Tuesday, November 20 2012:
Seriously people? Luff & Grimnes are both absolutely wonderful people, but also both have rental property in the area and I am sure they don't want to see the cost of rent decreased by an 8-plex (rent will not go down). This is a great project, the area serves no real purpose, does not effect salmon, migratory birds, seals, sea otters, whales or any other protected species. This is what we need. Good job Stepp and Olson.