Welcome

      

Title 21 Rewrite

      

Who We Are

      

2020 Plan

      

Transportation

      

Air Quality

      


 

Who We Are


Anchorage Citizens Coalition is a nonprofit
membership organization that works for:

  • Affordable homes near jobs
  • Plentiful parks and open spaces
  • Safe, balanced, economical transportation
    .. for all users
  • Healthy, attractive neighborhoods
  • A strong, sustainable economy
  • Clean, healthful air and water
  • Meaningful public participation in government

We actively participate in comprehensive plan implementation, promote local and regional land use
and transportation planning, publish a newsletter for members and sponsor events.

Membership

Supporting our causes is largely a volunteer effort of the Board and other members.
It's a huge task and we rely on contributions by individuals as well larger organizations.
Click here to make a contribution.

For more information about the Anchorage Citizens Coalition, email anchoragecitizenscoalition@gmail.com.

Anchorage Citizens Coalition
P.O. Box 244265
Anchorage, AK 99524

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are interested in volunteering with ACC, please contact us at via
email: anchoragecitizenscoalition@gmail.com. We can use your help!

 

Board of Directors 2010

Michael Howard - President
Kim Wetzel - Vice President
Pete Mjos ; Past President
Susanne DiPietro
Dianne Holmes
Walt Parker

 

Anchorage Citizens Coalition works for Anchorage to become "the most livable city in the nation."


In its first twelve years, ACC

  • Helped shape the development and adoption of Anchorage 2020, the city's comprehensive plan.
  • Facilitated public review of Title 21, Anchorage's land use laws,
    and continued monitoring and advising Title 21 revisions.
  • Sponsored the advocacy group "Transit Works for Anchorage."
  • Worked with government and school officials to document pedestrian safety needs
    and build projects such as school crossing zones for Hanshew Middle and Springhill Elementary Schools.
  • Watch-dogged major road construction projects such as the Highway to Highway freeway proposal.
  • Enlisted the expertise of numerous land development and transportation experts to advise local government.
  • Advocated for meaningful citizen participation in government decision-making.
  • Coalition president Michael Howard says:

In the ten years since Anchorage Citizens Coalition was organized at an old-fashioned town meeting,
our volunteers have made Anchorage a better place. ACC informs citizens about the decisions that affect
our homes, businesses and neighborhoods. Our volunteers were vigilant when Anchorage 2020 was
developed and adopted, for the re-write of Title 21 our land use code, and for changes that balance our highway,
trail, transit and pedestrian systems.


 

  Events and Action Opportunities

Title 21
The rewrite of our land use laws has been a long running challenge. Learn more here: Title 21.

Design standards that come from Anchorage 2020:

- Innovative designs to bypass code standards if community goals are met
- Square footage of windows on walls facing the street is increased
- Sunlight penetrates by separating structures
- Landscaping increases, especially along the foundation
- Articulating walls and massing - ie not "dormitory style" walls with uniform,
repetitive walls and windows marching down the street
- Entrances protected from rain, snow and glaciating drips;
- Driveway width limited at the street (driveways can widen on the lot)
- Dumpsters are screene;
- Garage doors limited to a smaller percent of the house front.

Standards that could be improved:
- Require more variety in housing types in new construction ie developer can build up to 5
identical units in a row all over town;
- Protect sunlight onto existing homes (Chapter 6 dimensional standards do not protect
northern city sunlight);
- Landscaping between the asphalt strips entering townhouse garage doors to provide relief from asphalt;

Bicycle Plan Approved
Bicycle Commuters of Anchorage had great support from the Assembly, and the Sullivan administration.
The plan was approved without changes. http//www.muni.org/Departments/traffic/AMATS/Documents/WEBAnchBicyclePlan_PublicHearing%20Draft_0809.pdf


Knik Arm Bridge Stays in the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (Long Range Transportation Plan )

Anchorage Citizens Coalition agreed with the Planning and Zoning Commission that this
$1.5 billion project should be removed from the Long Range Transportation Plan because
it works against the goals of Anchorage's adopted comprehensive plan and promotes
expensive sprawled development outside existing communities. The Assembly agreed.
But State officials at AMATS joined with Mayor Sullivan to keep the bridge in the near-term
section of Anchorage’s Long Range Transportation Plan. http://www.muni.org/Departments/traffic/AMATS/Documents/5aLRTPPZResolution2.pdf

We have prepared a fact sheet you can print and distribute. Read ACC's October 26, 2009 comments.


Expert Speaker Series

Lynn Peterson
Safe Walking - the foundation of healthy communities”
PAST:  February 5, Noon - 1:30pm, 5TH Floor Conference Room, City Hall

Anchorage Citizens Coalition brought Lynn Peterson to Anchorage to speak
about the health effects of balanced transportation systems.  Lynn is a highway
designer and urban planner who chairs the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners.  She lives in Lake Oswego and has worked with 1000 Friends
of Oregon, Fregonese and Calthorpe, as well as Portland's TriMet transit system. 
Mt Redoubt's eruption interrupted her March 2009 visit, now we have another
chance to work with Lynn. Her March 2009 presentation can be found at http://www.clackamas.us/bcc/peterson/alaska.htm
 
Lynn also met with Alaskans at "Urban Drinks," That evening at the Snow Goose on Third Avenue at G Street.

 

___________________________________________

Robert Liberty

Beyond Freeways - How to Link Land Use and Transportation”
PAST: June 26, 2009, noon to 1pm, City Hall, 8th Floor Conference Room.

Robert Liberty, elected councilor for Metro, Portland Oregon’s regional elected government, wrote the original proposal for 1000 Friends of Oregon to conduct
Portland’s groundbreaking “Land Use, Transportation and Air Quality Study”
in the late 1980’s.

Mr. Liberty presented “Beyond Freeways – How to Link Land Use and Transportation”
in June 2009 at City Hall.  The heart of Robert’s message?  Look for public and private investments that build Anchorage for easier walking and more frequent, more
convenient public transportation.  Look towards more compact and sustainable development to achieve mobility rather than relying on expensive high-speed freeways that promote sprawl.

Anchorage 2020 calls for a diverse, northern community with a thriving, sustainable, broad-based economy,
a safe, healthy, active learning community.

Federal policies are moving strongly in this direction.  Housing, environmental and transportation agencies
are working together to build “sustainable communities.”  Transit officials will consider “livability” and the environment when financing public transportation projects.  Proposed transportation law sets goals for
reducing climate change and other air pollutants, increasing walking and biking and promoting infill and redevelopment.

___________________________________________

Grace Crunican

Building a Sustainable Transportation System"
PAST:
October 2008, Featured Speaker Annual Meeting, Loussac Library

Grace Crunican In October 2008, the Anchorage Citizens Coalition celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a presentation by Grace Crunican, expert in building sustainable transportation systems and currently director of Seattle's Department of Transportation. Ms. Crunican spoke to coalition members about "Building a Sustainable Transportation System."

Grace has had a distinguished career, including five years as Oregon's Director of Transportation and three years with the Federal Transit Administration. http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/about.htm

 

 

We're working hard to make Anchorage the most livable city in America!

© 2012 Paid for by Anchorage Citizens Coalition

Website design by Casey Fenton Consulting