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| Timothy O'Malia | 12/1/2011 3:44:49 PM |
| As a resident of this quiet peaceful neighborhood I would like to express concern along with everyone of my neighbors to the expansion of the RCC. We have a quiet 2 acre lot to the Northwest of the existing RCC facility. Our view of the inlet and the alaska range is extensive from the second story of our home. Having attended community council meetings and neighborhood meetings with church representatives I have had opportunities to view the new design package. As an Engineer I see many flaws. The RCC representatives claim to have taken our view into account in their proposed expansion. However, the pastor said he looked from our fence line and did not see an issue with view blockage. His endevor was moot, since our primary view is approximately 30 feet higher from the area where he stood. We look down at the NW side of the current RCC structure to view the inlet, a forty foot high structure expanding to the west would directly effect our view and hence the market value of our home. People buy homes on the hillside for not only serenity but views. Futhermore, to address the traffic issue. Rabbit Creek road is the only hillside access which has not been improved in recent years by widening due to lack of room. That will not change unless eminent domain takes effect and starts wiping out homesteaders due to RCC traffic. on any given day during high flow times there is anywhere from a three to five minute wait to get out of Snowshoe drive to Rabbit Creek road. Doubling the size of RCC will no doubt increase this wait. It is not only a nuisance but a safety concern, as there are school buses dropping off children at that very spot. Rabbit creek road have virtually no shoulder to ride on, bikers and walkers are in danger as it is, increasing traffic would decrease safety for those individuals. Also you must take into consideration that the pastor of RCC claimed that approximately 50% of the congregation is from midtown. Why expand in a small community of Rabbit Creek when half your supporters come from mid town Anchorage? There is plenty of space for sale or lease in midtown, even south C Street near Target. Why not make it safer for your congregation to get to church safer and more timely, while keeeping good faith with the local residents. Lastly, and most important is the fact the the tax exempt RCC does not contribute to the maintence of Snowshoe lane, which on its best day is slightly better than the Burma road. They will not only be using this road and adding to the already enormous pot holes but adding congestion and their snow push area will drain directly onto Snowshoe causing extream degregation of the unpaved rural roadway. In closing, wildlife harassment will increase, traffic will increase, with youngsters ripping through the new parking lot and protective forest will be demolished with the intention of tax free revenue. There are four churches within one mile of our home at the current time. Bajai temple, Church at the sea, RCC and Oceanview, all within one mile, enough is enough!!!!! | |
| Jeff and Corrine Holt | 11/27/2011 3:11:23 PM |
| We also strongly oppose the addition to the church. We agree with the comments the other neighbors have submitted. It will increase traffic which is already a problem. Also, decreasing the water table in the area and freqent septic removal are negative issues as well. The zoning regulations should stay in place. Please do not allow the addition. | |
| Marty Lorenz | 11/27/2011 2:36:23 PM |
| I have lived directly across from the Rabbit Creek Community Church since before this area was part of Anchorage. I moved here to enjoy the Alaskan lifestyle of a small log cabin, a large wooded lot, off a small dirt road lightly populated with neighbors who know your name and stop by for coffee. The Church has always been an unwelcome intruder in our quiet neighborhood. I am below them on the mountain, and the negative impacts of diminished water flow, noise pollution, light pollution, people spinning donuts in their parking lot, runoff from their parking lots negatively impacting our privately maintained dirt road (which they do not chip in to maintain) are significant. Traffic generated by the Church is a nightmare. On a good day 5-6 of their patrons chose to enter my well marked "private drive-no trespassing" driveway to turn around, on a Sunday there is a steady stream. It is infuriating. My pets stay in my yard, more than one has come to harm from apologetic Church people who weren't watching where they were going and had no business on my property in the first place. The high volume of traffic rips up our dirt road, creating pot holes you could loose a tire in. Upset that they turned early, church people speed down the street with a cloud of dust behind them. Doubling the size of the Church and the traffic would only exasperate the difficulties the local residents are already experiencing. The peace and charm of this neighborhood would be negatively impacted in a significant way. Why not just throw in a strip mall and a gas station why you are at it? The buffer between the Church and the neighborhood has always been an issue. There, in reality, isn't one. They have winnowed it down to a light covering of a few single, widely placed birch trees. It is ineffective. The former driveway from the Church parking lot to Snowshoe lane has been blocked off but there is no buffer whatsoever in this area. Noise, litter, and runoff regularly use this path of least resistance to find their way from the Church to my home. I didn't mind the original concept of a small community church in our small rural styled community, but the Church has outgrown its name. A large commercial church should be in a commercial district. It does not belong in our neighborhood. | |
| Ted Wellman | 11/23/2011 8:59:55 AM |
| My wife and I have lived on property a few hundred feet north of the proposed church addition since the mid-70s. I oppose the additions to the church for numerous reasons. First, essentially doubling the size of the already too large church makes it out of character with the low density neighborhood. This area has always been large lot residential and the existing church is an anomaly. According to the church, half its current membership and presumably more of its desired 700 person membership will come from outside the area leading to more congestion, traffic, noise and disruption in the quiet neighborhood. Second, the land is without sewer service and soil conditions do not permit an on-site sewer system. By the church's own admission, the holding tank must now be pumped weekly. Doubling the size will make pumping necessary every few days. Third, the church's water use will increase dramatically and potentially cause a drop in the water table for other homeowners. The area depends upon wells from several aquifers. The water data upon which the church's application is based is very old and demand could easily dry up existing wells in the area. Fourth, the access to the site is from Rabbit Creek Road which causes problems because traffic down hill will have to stop to allow traffic turning into the site. The problem is that down hill traffic cannot often easily stop coming down a steep grade on slick road conditions. Accordingly, an increased number of accidents, particularly during the winter, is likely. Fifth, snow storage is a problem for Snowshoe Lane on the west of the property. Ideally, water from melting snow should be contained on the property rather than flowing into the swale to handle runoff from Rabbit Creek Road which already suffers from glaciation problems. Containing it on the property is unlikely considering poor soil conditions. Considering all of the above factors, particularly the lack of public sewer and water, makes this a very poor location for a megachurch which draws members from throughout Anchorage into a quiet rural neighborhood. Apparently, the church's business model seeking 700 members helps defray expenses -- it just does not belong in our rural neighborhood. | |
| Keith and Tammy Dohmen | 11/21/2011 8:09:40 PM |
| ----- Original Message ----- From: Tammy Dohmen Cc: keith@alaskapipeliner.com Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 7:42 PM Subject: CASE # 2011 144 We live at 3509 Shandy Court, Our house is a 1200 square ft ranch on 2.5 acres that was built in the 1950’s it faces south looking down hill towards the church. My Dad lived here in the 60s my sister Shandy in the 80s and now my wife and I reside here with our son who we home school. We once again stand united with our family and our neighbors in opposition to the Rabbit Creek Community Churches 3rd attempt to expand their Building and parking area to over double the size it is currently. (Policy 46) “Unique appeal of residential neighborhoods shall be protected” Our Unique appeal is a small wooded family neighborhood with single lane drive ways and dirt roads that we maintain privately. For decades The Moose have had their babies less than 100 ft from this proposed Behemoth. We have seen bears, coyotes, foxes, Many bird species Owls, Eagles, goshawk, stellar jay, Our neighborhood has Unique appeal, The proposed expansion does not. It always was is and will be a bad idea to approve such an expansion in this area of Anchorage. (The largest South of Carrs Safeway on Huffman) The Traffic Plan alone is enough to kill this Project, The increased number of people who have built homes up the hill east of the church who utilize Rabbit Creek Road has negatively impacted the safety of our intersection at Snow Shoe lane as it is. Increasing the Amount of cars coming and going on an often ice covered steep grade only increases the chance of accident, injury and or DEATH. What about the water and sewer usage increase? Our well produces just enough water to sustain our basic needs. We refrain from the luxury of watering our lawn or washing our cars at home in an effort to conserve, and we are not convinced that an increase in water usage at the Church won’t affect the aquifer that we draw from. The Church is currently on a Septic holding tank that is pumped quite often, we see Mr Mc Donald parked there in front of the Church on a regular basis. Increasing usage leads to an increase in risk on the Traffic Pattern and the Environment. Accidents can and do happen, It was only a few a few years ago that a septic truck over turned on the Seward Highway Spilling several thousand gallons of raw sewage coming from a holding tank in Girdwood. The first attempt at this “expansion” was referred to as a (school )by then pastor Terry Hill .Then 2nd attempt, it wasn’t a school, it was a learning center that just looked like a school complete with a full size basketball court and showers. We have all wasted to much energy on what Pastor Terry Hill referred to as “Gods Will”. Remember Alaska Baptist Temple, one expansion after another, I bet the people that live next to that “learning center” are sorry that Planning and Zoning didn’t protect their Unique appeal. Please address our concerns Does the plan pass and or conform to the requirements of the Zoning Board of Adjustments? Lighting, Noise Pollution, Air Pollution, Potential Environmental Pollution, Water Usage, Traffic, Storm Water. Keith and Tammy Dohmen | |
| Brian Feeney | 11/21/2011 5:24:23 PM |
| Please stop the continued efforts to expand the Rabbit Creek Community Church. I have lived most my life directly below the church lot 184 in lot 183. I have watched them grow and expand from a neighborhood church to a commercial size building. As the building and parking lot expanded, the landscaping buffers have diminished exposing and impacting the surrounding community. I am impacted everyday by activities at the church. I wake up every Monday morning to a pump truck and can hear the many cars coming and going like they were in my driveway. In years past multiple vehicles are stuck in my driveway while exiting the church parking lot. This has caused me over a dozen broken mailboxes and late to work on many occasions being blocked in. Things, whatever it might be in the church parking lot that can roll, slide, blow, drain, or make its way downhill usually end up in my yard. The landscaping buffers and drainage are presently inadequate and would only get worse after another expansion. | |
| GAy and Sylvia Merryman | 11/20/2011 10:59:45 AM |
| November 20, 2011 To the Deputy Director of the Planning Division Municipality of Anchorage It’s just not fair for a facility to come into our neighborhood and change our zoning, and have such a negative effect on our neighborhood presenting problems such as noise factors, parking lot lighting, drainage problems, traffic issues, reduction of our land values, structures that do not fit within the character our neighborhood. Our property directly backs up behind this proposed structure. Lot 1 Merryman subdivision Property Id 018-282-20-00010 . This will negatively impact our quality of life. We would have to deal with all of the problems that will come along with this project. We have been in this neighborhood since the 1960’s. We really do not want to change the quality of our lives to suit an organization that wants to enter this community by changing the whole landscape of our surroundings. There are far too many issues with this proposed facility that would negatively impact the integrity of our surrounding neighborhood We stand firm that this R6 zoning should remain as it is. If the proposed exit from this structure is onto Snow Shoe Lane it would cause an obstructive traffic problem for this neighborhood. Also keep in mind the children walking to and from the Anchorage school bus stop would be at risk with the additional exit traffic from that proposed facility. The Rabbit Creek Community Church has repeatedly attempted to alter the Municipal regulations by requesting changes in the present zoning and other regulations. We are asking you to please consider our comments in this critical matter. Sincerely, Sylvia and Gary Merryman For questions please feel free to call us 907 223-6749 sgmerryman@gci.net We have participated in this planning review several times in the past and have fought for our rights in this manner. This rabbit Community church is persistent in changing the integrity of this neighborhood. Keep in mind we as tax payers realize that this new construction would not only change the zoning in this area but would be tax exempt since it is owned be the Rabbit Community Church. So here you have a request to change the zoning laws to construct an unwanted building in our neighborhood and a tax exempt structure as well. This proposed structure would impact this neighborhood in ways you can’t even imagine at this point. We are requesting that you keep our current zoning R6 as is to protect our community. We have been part of this neighborhood since the 1960’s, and have complied by the laws of Anchorage Muicipality. We pay for our own road maintenance for Snowshoe lane and Shandy Ct thereby saving money for the city of Anchorage in our very small way, which by the way the Rabbit Creek Community Church does not participate. | |
| Sylvia and Gary Merryman | 11/20/2011 10:37:25 AM |
| November 20, 2011 To the Deputy Director of the Planning Division Municipality of Anchorage It’s just not fair for a facility to come into our neighborhood and change our zoning, and have such a negative effect on our neighborhood presenting problems such as noise factors, parking lot lighting, drainage problems, traffic issues, reduction of our land values, structures that do not fit within the character our neighborhood. Our property directly backs up behind this proposed structure. Lot 1 Merryman subdivision Property Id 018-282-20-00010 . This will negatively impact our quality of life. We would have to deal with all of the problems that will come along with this project. We have been in this neighborhood since the 1960’s. We really do not want to change the quality of our lives to suit an organization that wants to enter this community by changing the whole landscape of our surroundings. There are far too many issues with this proposed facility that would negatively impact the integrity of our surrounding neighborhood We stand firm that this R6 zoning should remain as it is. If the proposed exit from this structure is onto Snow Shoe Lane it would cause an obstructive traffic problem for this neighborhood. Also keep in mind the children walking to and from the Anchorage school bus stop would be at risk with the additional exit traffic from that proposed facility. The Rabbit Creek Community Church has repeatedly attempted to alter the Municipal regulations by requesting changes in the present zoning and other regulations. We are asking you to please consider our comments in this critical matter. Sincerely, Sylvia and Gary Merryman For questions please feel free to call us 907 223-6749 sgmerryman@gci.net | |
| Dianne Holmes | 11/14/2011 9:33:13 AM |
| The church addition is smaller and lower in height than the prior plan offered. Some of the main concerns from 2004 are the same as today however--landscaping buffers and drainage. Churches and schools simply by their size have a large impact on residential areas; that is why the community pressed for the Title 21 rewrite to contain a protective clause in 21.07.130B--which was passed by the Assembly Title 21 Committee but just missed being provisionally adopted before the process was halted. Consider that language for this plat. LANDSCAPING BUFFERS--the DOT ROW along Rabbit Cr Rd should not be altered as it provides good screening for the large structure. However, since DOT could remove the buffer at any time, ensure that the church plat contains a buffer north of DOT's berm of dense spruce trees that will augment DOT's. Another recent church site plan, nearby, was not required to have a buffer of any consequence; the character of the neighborhood is not protected with inadequate buffers (although policies of Anch 2020 require that). Spruce provides year-round screening, requires little maintenance and is not moose browse. PRIOR PLAT CONDITIONS: Ensure that the buffers required by prior plats are completed; they do not appear to have been planted according to the last plats for the SW corner of the property. DRAINAGE--this is a big problem over the whole of SE Anchorage. Large paved parking areas contribute to the problem. Ensure that dense vegetative buffers are part of the drainage plan, per provisionally adopted Title 21 sections. SIGNS: the size of churches alone announce their presence; large or multiple signs are not needed. It would be inappropriate to have flashing or electric signs in this residential area. | |