KTUU.com | Alaska's news and information source | Not in their backyard

Not in their backyard

by Lori Tipton
Monday, March 10, 2008

PALMER, Alaska -- Plans to build another east-west connector in the Valley have been put on hold.    

The Bogard Road extension came before the Mat-Su Borough Assembly on Thursday, when it was unveiled to the public.

It's causing controversy already, though, because it would essentially cut through some prime farm land in Palmer.    

After hearing public comments against the two proposed routes in January, borough planners came up with what is called the blue route, which would put the highway in the middle of a farm. The owners say if that happens, they will put up a fight.

It's 120 acres of beautiful farm land. And its owners say, simply, that highways don't blend or work well with farms.

Debra and James McCormick have lived on the farm for the past 25 years. Just last week, the couple found out that their property would be crossed by one of the borough's proposed routes to extend Bogard Road.

"It would destroy this property. It would destroy it," James McCormick said.    

Borough planners say the blue route would minimize impact on farm land and subdivisions.

The McCormick farm could still function, though, says the borough, since it is mostly hayfields.

"It's a hayfield to them. It's 25 years of my life, to me," Debra McCormick said.

The McCormicks have received numerous offers over the past few years from potential buyers.

"We've been literally offered millions for it and turned it down because it may be worth a lot of money, but it's our way of life," James McCormick said.

After hearing about the blue route the couple voiced their concerns to Assembly members.    

Two Assembly members voted in favor of the blue route on Thursday, according to Debra McCormick.

"Michelle Church had no problems voting yes to take out my farm, she's never been here and didn't even know if the road would work," she said

But Church says after hearing from the McCormicks she drove through the area this past weekend and she's changed her mind.

The route looks good on paper, Church says, but it simply won't work after seeing it in person.    

"It definitely gives you a different feeling for what this, the blue route, would do for that area," she said.

Assembly member Pete Houston also voted for the proposed blue route.

"I think the blue route is the best compromise between bad choices," he said.

Houston says there is no particular route that everyone will be happy with but the blue route would have less impact on the majority of residents.

"We'll work closely with the property owners and farmers to mitigate impact as much as we possibly can," he said.

But the McCormicks say that simply won't cut it and if the borough goes with the blue route compromise, they will sell the land to the highest bidder and move elsewhere.

"So we'll strip off all the topsoil, sell it off, strip off all the timber, take that cash and start over someplace else," Debra McCormick said. "What choice are they leaving us?"

What does or doesn't happen to Bogard Road is shaping up to be a tough choice for the Mat-Su Assembly. It will also be a tough choice for these long-time local farmers on whether to stay or go.

The Assembly will take the issue up again next Tuesday. A few of the Assembly members say they expect a decision to be made then.

Once a route is chosen, Dowl Engineers can then give a cost estimate to the borough. The borough can then pass that along to the Legislature to ask for funding.

Contact Lori Tipton at ltipton@ktuu.com