The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 14 approved a conditional use permit for a stormwater sediment management facility to be located on state-owned land at 5420 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, subject to conditions 1 and 2 in the staff report.

Staff told the commission the facility is proposed on property used by multiple state operations, including the Alaska State Troopers Anchorage headquarters, equipment fleet shop and materials lab, and would provide capacity to process catch-basin and inlet cleaning materials required under the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit. Planning staff recommended approval after finding the project met all nine conditional-use criteria and the eight use-specific standards for such facilities.

The facility is proposed on state land at the southeast corner of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Tierra (Tudor) Road and would operate within a fenced yard on existing DOT&PF property. Planning staff said the municipality currently operates a facility on Northwood Drive but lacks capacity to take DOT&PF material; DOT&PF now uses privately permitted sites. A staff presentation cited the current MS4 joint-permit with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), with a permit dated Aug. 1, 2020, expiring July 31, 2025, and described the new MS4 control measure that requires permittees to “design, fund, build, and operate” one or more processing facilities for catch-basin and inlet cleaning materials.

Petitioner Dave Whitfield, representing R&M Consultants and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), said the facility would be intermittent, operate mainly in summer months, and include an earthen berm on the north, east and south sides to provide a visual buffer and mitigate noise. Whitfield said the project was discussed at a Campbell Park Community Council meeting May 15, 2025, and that the project team "have no objections" to the staff conditions listed on page 8 of the staff report.

Commissioner questions focused on the MS4 permit status and whether DEC extensions or permit renewals could affect the project. Renee Ginzel (DOT&PF maintenance and operations) told the commission that DEC typically issues permits on multi‑year cycles, that DEC can run behind, and that DOT&PF expected to obtain an extension letter from DEC to provide additional time to build the facility. Ginzel said, “Once it comes out, we have a hundred and 20 days to comply with the new permit,” and that the department had already discussed timing with DEC.

After closing the public hearing, Commissioner Polis moved to approve case 2025-0075, seconded by Commissioner Eber. The chair called the vote; the transcript records Commissioner Greg Scribe voting “Yes.” The commission announced the motion passed. The staff report and packet list the specific conditions that form part of the approval.

Why it matters: the new facility is intended to provide DOT&PF with a municipal‑scale option for handling sediment removed from catch basins and inlets under the MS4 stormwater requirements. Planning staff said municipal reviewing agencies raised no objections and that no public comments had been received by the department as of the staff report.

Next steps: the approval is subject to the conditions in the staff report (page 8). The transcript and staff packet note appeal deadlines under AMC 21.03.050: a written notice of intent to appeal must be filed with the planning director within seven days of the commission’s decision on the record; following approval of written findings, any party of interest may file an appeal within 20 days per AMC procedures.