After a decade of local debate the Anchorage Assembly saw a long-awaited conclusion to the issue of Title 21 Tuesday night, voting to approve far-reaching changes to city ordinances governing land-use issues from building sizes to fencing codes.
The Assembly reviewed over 200 amendments, addressing topics like the city's natural appeal and how far a house must be set back from a stream. A final version of the measure passed Tuesday deletes many of the city’s commercial building design standards.
Assembly members say Title 21 has been on the table for a long time, but they’re glad to see it pass.
“What I really like about this is we've had a great process -- the committee finished up their work and we got input, a lot of input, from the community,” said Assembly Chair Ernie Hall.
Critics, like former Assembly member Sheila Selkregg, say the process of changing Title 21 wasn’t quite that democratic.
“The major bulk of those amendments did not come from the public -- they came from Dan Coffey, the mayor and special interests,” Selkregg said. “They went through a review process that didn't have much public viewpoint, and they were significant compromises from what the public said they originally wanted.”
Hall says Title 21 is a living document, and if Anchorage residents have any complaints the Assembly will listen and make necessary changes as time goes on.
Channel 2’s Garrett Turner contributed information to this story.
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