Dear Editor: The Sitka Community Land Trust is planning to build one more house in the S’us’ Heeni Shaak neighborhood. A small parcel of land above the rock wall, adjacent to the Mill Street right of way (ROW) will accommodate another small, three bedroom home, on a 30’ by 30’ gravel building pad.
In the June 3 Sentinel, a neighbor, Mary Magnuson, objects to this development on the grounds of economics, water issues, and the use of the public ROW.
With regard to the economics of developing this site and the water issues, the claims made by Ms. Magnuson are not well informed. We have looked closely at the costs of development. Even after site excavation, we will be able to offer a home on this site for a similar cost as the other houses in the neighborhood using funds we have already raised. We have managed the flow of water off this upper site onto our downhill property for six years. Engineering drainage systems is a common, manageable problem.
The Mill Street ROW is a 60’ by 214’ publicly owned parcel of ground. Parking on this ROW will require some flexibility in the administration of regulations. We propose to extend a portion of Mill Street a short distance and create two parking spaces. This will not limit access to the adjoining lots in any way. We propose a maintenance agreement between neighbors for the upkeep of the ROW.
Developing permanently affordable home ownership in Sitka is difficult. Most of the good ground was developed years ago and remaining sites often have substantial problems. To retain our families and change our community’s demographics, we must be creative and collaborate to find every opportunity for affordability.
Randy Hughey,
Sitka Community Land Trust
