Join Us in Shaping the Future: Comprehensive Planning for the City of Wasilla
Contributed by Crystal J. Nygard
As we look toward the future of Wasilla, now is the time for residents and businesses to come together and participate in a crucial initiative: updating the Comprehensive Plan for our city. This plan is essential for addressing the unique challenges and opportunities that come with our growth and development.
Located 40 miles north of Anchorage, Wasilla is a thriving hub in the Matanuska- Susitna Borough, serving both locals and thousands of visitors who enjoy our beautiful outdoor landscapes year-round. As our population continues to grow, outpacing state averages for over two decades-it’s vital that we have a clear vision for the city’s future.
What makes The City of Wasilla unique from other places in Alaska?
· The borough provides key public safety services such as fire.
· Wasilla has the only Economic Development Administration approved regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) which is blueprint for economic vitality.
· The city is incorporated as a First-Class City with a Council-Mayor form of government, providing the following public services: City Clerk; Code Compliance; Economic Development; Finance; Library; Parks and Recreation; Municipal Airport; Planning; Police and Emergency Dispatch, and public works.
· Currently over >5,800 businesses and 115+ franchises operate in the city limits.
· The City collects a sales tax of 2.5% and no property tax.
· Planned expansion of City-Owned Wasilla Municipal Airport runway from 3,700 to 6,000 ft.
· No debt and several capital projects that are now “shovel-ready” and can be built as funding becomes available; In May 2023, the City Council adopted a city budget that included $22M in capital expenditures. Matching state and federal funds will allow these capital expenditures to total an estimated $57M in project, including extension of the Municipal Airport runway and initial upgrades to water and sewer infrastructure.
Why Update the Comprehensive Plan?
The last update to our Comprehensive Plan was in 2011 and as mandated by Alaska State Statues, we need to revisit and enhance this guiding document every ten years. The updated plan will focus on several key areas including,
· Transportation Goals: Identifying goals that support the current and future development of the city by ensuring an efficient, inclusive, and well-connected transportation system that accommodates all users.
· Land Use: Planning for necessary infrastructure upgrades, simplifying zoning and development codes and enhancing land use flexibility.
· Downtown Overlay reassessment: Evaluate the goals of the Downtown Overlay to create a clear roadmap that aligns with and supports the future vision for downtown Wasilla.
· Community Assets: Determine goals to enhance parks, library, museum, and facilities to promote economic development, community engagement and connection.
· Economic Vitality: Goals focused on critical infrastructure investments, airport expansion, attracting entrepreneurs; promoting tourism, and supporting high-impact projects.
· Intergovernmental Coordination: Goals to strengthen partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, tourism organizations, cultural partnerships, visitors’ services, and private/public partnerships to support the shared vision for the future of Wasilla.
The success of this Comprehensive Plan hinges on active participation from our residents, businesses, and stakeholders. Your insights and experience are invaluable in creating a vision that meets our community’s needs for the next 20 years. This is an opportunity to voice your ideas, concerns, and aspirations for Wasilla’s future.
How to get Involved
We invite you to be part of this essential process. Visit our website at http://www.wasilla2045.com to learn more about the planning process and how you can contribute. Whether you are a long-time resident, a new business owner, or a community partner, your involvement is crucial in shaping a thriving future for Wasilla.
Together, we can create a Comprehensive Plan that reflects our community’s values and goals, ensuring that Wasilla remains a vibrant, accessible, and prosperous place to live, work and play. Join us on this journey today!