MONTANA CREEK NEEDS YOUR HELP—PUBLIC COMMENT NEEDED TO PLANNING COMMISSION BY MAY 1
The CBJ Planning Commission is now taking public comment on the revision of the City’s Comprehensive Plan. This Plan will guide CBJ land use planning for the next decade. Trout Unlimited has submitted its Montana Creek report to the CBJ for consideration during this Comprehensive Plan review process. The report has been well received, but we need strong public comment to ensure that the report’s recommendations are adopted.
Please submit comments by May 1 to PC_Comments@ci.juneau.ak.us. Here are a few key points to make in your comments:
--Montana Creek is a unique and heavily used resource for Juneau citizens, including fishermen, hikers, bikers and hunters. Its healthy habitat and clean water support a diverse and rich fishery. However, as Juneau grows there will be increasing development pressure on areas like Montana Creek. The Comp Plan review should ensure that resources like Montana Creek are maintained and protected.
--The Planning Commission should adopt the recommendations in Trout Unlimited’s report on Montana Creek, especially the two key recommendations for a 500 foot stream buffer and protection of associated wetlands.
--These recommendations have already been endorsed by the Juneau Watershed Partnership, the Wetlands Review Board and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council.
--The 500 foot buffer is only .78 square miles, or only 5.1% of the entire watershed, but it contains the wetlands, side channels and other habitat necessary for healthy salmon runs and clean water.
--The recommendations will not affect housing development as there are no affordable housing sites in the area. Also, almost 75% of the buffer zone is classified as wetlands, has very steep slopes and/or is in the 100-year flood plain and is, thus, undevelopable.
--This is a rare opportunity for a “win-win” situation since the recommended protections do not conflict with other development or uses and will be very effective at protecting the creek and all of its existing multiple uses.
For more info: 790-8876 or www.tujuneau.org