Planning Commision Needs to Hear from You!

URGENT! Please click here to email your support for this project!

 

Planning Commission Meeting - January 24 @ 7pm - Please attend in person @ City Hall!

 

URGENT! Please click here to email your support for this project!

P&R – Project List – City and Borough of Juneau

Project Overview

The CBJ Parks and Recreation Department (P&R) has been working with community Off Road Vehicle (ORV) groups to understand interest in ORV riding opportunities. Over the past twenty years, riding areas have been redeveloped or regulations have changed to prohibit motorized use and there are few areas left to legally recreate in Juneau. CBJ has evaluated many sites for motorized use since the early 2000s and for various reasons, riding sites have not been established. Through the recent work with user groups, the 35 mile site was recognized as a potential location for an ORV riding park.

Juneau Off-Road Association (JORA), a non-profit organization in Alaska, is interested in partnering with P&R on an ORV riding park at the CBJ 35 mile property. CBJ and JORA are evaluating the site for a riding park using data previously collected on site, working with resource agencies, and collecting current field data. The process for establishing a riding park at this site includes a general public meeting, consideration by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC), the Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee, the Assembly, the Planning Commission and other resource agencies that would permit the project such as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Army Corps of Engineers.

CBJ and JORA hosted a public meeting on February 9, 2022 to provide information and answer questions on the proposed project.  The meeting presentation is below under “Associated Documents”.

Parks and Recreation staff and JORA presented the project proposal to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee and the Lands, Housing and Economic Development Committee (LHED) on April 5 and April 11 respectively.  Both committees unanimously passed motions of support for CBJ to work with JORA on developing the project and applying for permits.  At a later date after permit applications and project development, the Assembly will consider the proposal.

Conditional Use Permit Application and Comments Being Accepted until January 20, 2023 at Noon

CBJ and JORA have applied for a Conditional Use Permit to develop the riding park at 35 mile.  The public comment period is now open and comments are made through the CBJ Community Development Department.  Please review the application which includes details of the proposed project.  Then please go to the webpage to provide comments on the proposal.

• Comments received from now until January 2, 2023 will be included in a staff analysis report and forwarded to the Commission.
• Comments received between January 3, 2023 through January 20, 2023 at Noon will be forwarded to the Commission in an “Additional Materials” update packet.
• Last day for written comments: January 20, 2023 at Noon
• Written comments may be sent to one of the following:

PC_comments@juneau.org or Jennifer.Shields@juneau.org

The Hearing before the Planning Commission is scheduled for January 24, 2023 at 7pm. It will be a “hybrid” meeting, meaning the public may attend either in person or via Zoom. Closer to the meeting date, the zoom link will be posted here: https://juneau-ak.municodemeetings.com/

General questions about the project can be emailed to parks.rec@juneau.org.