The Fairbanks North Star Borough has released its draft version of the borough Regional Comprehensive Plan Update and is seeking comment. Make sure to take a look and comment.
Comments Make a Difference
For example, the new project to create a back entrance to Chena Lake Recreation Area from Plack Road came about due to community comments. In the past, community comments have helped with the development of borough parks such as Skyline Ridge Park, and Tanana Lakes and Isberg recreation areas. Comments also were critical for the update of the borough’s Comprehensive Recreational Trails Plan. Your comments help shape the plan, which helps shape our community. You can and do make a difference!
Take a look at this note from the plan draft.
When asked “what is the best part about living in the Fairbanks area,” one of the most common themes was the plentiful access to nature and the outdoors. Participants frequently noted “access to nature,” “outdoor recreation opportunities,” and “trails” when describing the best part about living in the FNSB.
See the plan update page HERE.
Breaking It Down
While the plan can be overwhelming, here are a few tips to break it down to make it easier.
- Read or skim through the executive summary to get an idea of what the plan is about. It’s only 10 pages. See it HERE. (See the full plan and other documents on the plan update page HERE.)
- Choose a passion and look for that in the plan. If you are reading this, you probably have a passion for trails, paths, active transportation, and greenspaces. You can do a word search in the plan or you can work your way methodically through the plan. I have outlined where i found those issues in the plan. If you support some or all of the Goals and Strategies, make sure to comment on that. Silence does not automatically mean support.
- Break things into smaller parts. You can comment more than once. Choose one passion and comment. Another time, choose another passion, and then comment.
- Probably the most important part of the plan is “Chapter 7: Implementation Plan,” which starts on page 75. This is how the borough will take action to make the overall plan happen. Focus your comments on that.
- I’ve added “Thoughts” to each part of the plan to hopefully help inspire some comments.
Commenting
The comment period is open from July 15 to August 15
When commenting make sure to say what you think has been done right. Planners want to know that. And give reasons for any comments you make. That helps guide the planning process.
You can comment several ways:
- Fill out the online form HERE.
- The online form limits you to 1,000 characters per “chapter” (listed below), so that’s better for shorter comments
- Email kayde.whiteside@fnsb.gov
- Call at 907-459-1262
- Write to the borough at P.O. Box 71267, Fairbanks, AK 99707
Most Important Part of the Plan
Chapter 7 — “Implementation Plan” — is probably the most important part of the plan because it guides borough staff moving forward. Below I have highlighted areas I found with a significant impact to trails, paths, active transportation, and greenspaces. Note that the numbered Strategies also have one or more “Potential Actions” listed in the plan. The Implementation Plan starts on page 75.
Measuring Success
On page 79 the plan shows ways it measures the success of the plan. Here are two that are related to trails, paths, active transportation and greenspaces.
- Miles of new bicycle and pedestrian facilities constructed within FNSB per year
- Percent of households living within 15 min walk of public park or greenspace, minimum ½ acre
Thought: Are there any other metrics the borough should use to measure the success of trails, paths, active transportation, and greenspaces?
Community Health, Safety and Wellness (chapter)
Starting on page 80
Goal A: “Promote safe, equitable, affordable, and convenient access to healthcare, education, child and elder care, wellness, recreational opportunities, shelter, and social support services to meet the needs of all residents, current and future.
Strategies:
- 1. Improve mobility and reduce car dependence by focusing on public transit, non-motorized infrastructure, and accessibility.
- 6. Support and promote organizations providing essential health and wellness services
Thoughts: Do you agree with this goal and these strategies? Strategy 6 has a Potential Action: “Encourage participation in physical and recreational activities.” How do you think the borough can increase participation in those activities?
Goal C: Provide services, programs and facilities that empower year-round healthy lifestyles for all ages and abilities
Strategies:
- Increase opportunities for physical activity in all seasons.
- Support or provide education and outreach to increase safety related to unique risks in our environment.
- Sustain and protect local investment in parks.
- Guide, maintain, and protect the community’s investment in public parks and recreation.
18. Continue to support the University of Alaska Fairbanks as a community hub. (Trails are mentioned under “Potential Actions”: C. Promote and support community programs, events, and facilities offered and facilitated by UAF (e.g., Music in the Garden, Botanical Gardens, recreation facilities and north campus trails, Rasmuson Library, Museum of the North, Cooperative Extensions, lecture series, etc.)
Thoughts: Do you agree with these strategies? Are there any other ways the borough can use trails, paths, active transportation, and greenspaces to improve community health, safety and wellness? Are there specific ways the borough can make sure the above strategies get implemented?
Land Use, Housing and Small Area Planning (chapter)
Starting on page 95
Goal A: Responsibly guide public and private land use and development to support neighborhoods, communities, natural and wild spaces, and economic opportunities while protecting private property rights.
Thought: Do you agree with this goal? How can the borough make sure more people are within a “15 min walk of public park or greenspace, minimum ½ acre”? Should more parks be built? Should more trails be built to connect parks and greenspaces?
Economic Development (chapter)
Starting on page 106
Goal A: Foster a healthy, diverse and sustainable economy with a supportive and inclusive business environment that facilitates a diversity of local businesses, services, and employment opportunities.
Strategies:
48. Support mixed use development options in appropriate locations throughout the FNSB.
50. Provide public transit and a robust active transportation network, recognizing their essential role in ensuring a workforce can access employment.
Thoughts (also see Transportation and Infrastructure below): Do you agree with this Goal and Strategies? Do you support “mixed use development? (Such development can support active transportation. The shorter the commute between home and work or errands, the more likelihood that people will use active transportation.) How can the borough improve the “active transportation network,” such as trails and protected lanes and paths? How can the borough encourage more people to use the existing facilities?
Natural Resources and Environment (chapter)
Starting on page 115
Goal A: Capitalize on the borough’s natural resources in a responsible manner that protects natural systems and minimizes conflicts with impacted properties.
Strategies:
68. Protect access to healthy waterways and waterbodies
71. Protect local biodiversity and fish & wildlife habitat
Thoughts: Do you agree with these? Land and water trails complement greenspaces. With the strategic use of trails, greenspaces can provide fish and wildlife habitat while still providing access and a valuable resource to humans. Healthy waterways and waterbodies are important for our drinking water, but they also provide a place for swimming, boating, and other activities. In winter, they provide trails for a variety of uses. We need access for both summer and winter. Are there enough access points to “healthy waterways and waterbodies”?
Transportation and Infrastructure (chapter)
Starting on page 124
Goal A: Provide a year-round, safe, resilient, multi-modal transportation network to move people and goods to, from and through the Borough, connecting people to opportunities, social networks, recreation, and services.
Strategies:
84. Update and maintain FNSB Comprehensive Road Plan and small area plans to guide development based on road connectivity needs. (See Thoughts below)
85: Apply modern standards for roadway design appropriate for the context and that consider all users.
86. Encourage and expand the use of trails as alternative transportation
90. Prioritize the development of “complete streets” corridors in urban areas for year-round multimodal improvements spread through multiple urban centers (ex. Downtown, College, North Pole). Integrate safe multiuse sidewalks and trails into road networks for commuter and recreational purposes.
91. Support projects, plans, designs, and circulation patterns that improve walkability and make our communities more pedestrian friendly.
92. Improve, promote, and expand transportation options for all segments of the community, including children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and residents without access to a vehicle.
94. Support funding for FAST Regional Planning Organization (RPO) and funding a Fairbanks RPO plan for addressing needs of rural areas outside of the MPO.
95. Maintain and develop vegetation and greenbelts when connecting community assets, neighborhoods, and recreation areas while protecting natural areas, habitat, and other ecosystems.
Thoughts (same as those under Economic Development): Do you agree with these strategies? How can the borough improve the “active transportation network,” such as trails and protected lanes and paths? How can the borough encourage more people to use the existing facilities? Do you support Strategy 94? FAST Planning has been a big part of developing active transportation infrastructure in the Fairbanks and North Pole areas, including urban trails. Do you support Strategy 95? Vegetation and greenbelts make active transportation much more enjoyable and can provide safety when trails cut through them, allowing active transportation users to avoid roads shared wth cars and trucks.
Also, Strategy 84 has an interesting “Potential Action”: Plan space in public rights of way for ATV use in rural areas of the Borough. This should be explored even in areas that are closer to the urban cores. ATV use on and next to “non-motorized” paths is a problem. Even when ATVs drive next to paved non-motorized paths, they kick up gravel on the paths, often quite a lot of gravel. This creates a hazard on those paths.
Digging Deeper
Want to dive even deeper into the plan? The middle of the plan helped guide the Implementation section. You can look at it to determine how the borough planners came up with Goals and Strategies used in the Implementation section. Below I have highlighted portions having to do with trails, paths, active transportation, and greenspaces.
Chapter 2: Community Health, Safety, and Wellness
Starting on page 37
Goal A: Promote safe, equitable, affordable, and convenient access to healthcare, education, child and elder care, wellness, recreational opportunities, shelter, and social support services to meet the needs of all residents, current and future.
Strategy 1: Improve mobility and reduce car dependence by focusing on public transit, non-motorized infrastructure, and accessibility.
Goal C: Provide services, programs and facilities that empower year-round healthy lifestyles for all ages and abilities.
Strategy 12: Increase opportunities for physical activity in all seasons.
Strategy 15: Sustain and protect local investment in parks.
Strategy 16: Guide, maintain, and protect the community’s investment in public parks and recreation.
Chapter 3. Land Use, Housing, and Small Area Planning
Starting on page 50
Goal A: Responsibly guide public and private land use and development to support neighborhoods,
communities, natural and wild spaces, and economic opportunities while protecting private property rights.
Chapter 4. Economic Development
Starting on Page 56
Goal B: Strengthen the borough as a full-service and competitive regional hub and gateway to the arctic by capitalizing on its unique assets.
Strategy 52: Promote unique local characteristics and industries that have potential for economic development.
Goal C: Attract investment by beautifying public spaces, promoting arts and creative industries, and celebrating the borough’s diverse cultural and historic heritage.
Strategy 56: Pursue projects and efforts to beautify visible public spaces in the downtown core, along the Chena Riverfront, along major transportation corridors, in parks and pathways, and areas identified through small area plans.
5. Natural Resources and Environment
Starting on page 68
Transportation and Infrastructure
Starting on page 73
Goal A: Provide a year-round, safe, resilient, multi-modal transportation network to move people and goods to, from and through the Borough, connecting people to opportunities, social networks, recreation, and services.
Strategy 86: Encourage and expand the use of trails as alternative transportation corridors.
Strategy 90: Prioritize the development of “complete streets” corridors in urban areas for year-round multimodal improvements spread through multiple urban centers (ex. Downtown, College, North Pole). Integrate safe multi-use sidewalks and trails into road networks for commuter and recreational purposes.
Strategy 91: Support projects, plans, designs, and circulation patterns that improve walkability and make our communities more pedestrian friendly.
Strategy 92: Improve, promote, and expand transportation options for all segments of the community, including children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and residents without access to a vehicle.
Strategy 95: Maintain and develop vegetation and greenbelts when connecting community assets,
neighborhoods, and recreation areas while protecting natural areas, habitat, and other ecosystems.
Badger road Np arena has bike paths and side walks but the majority of the traffic is atv sxs dirt bikes
it’s more considered country then town setting
The trail setting for motorized vehicles is horrible and unsafe it would be nice if they had some dedicated trails too
Make sure to comment and let the borough know.