The Hillside area of Anchorage is growing rapidly; faster than any other Anchorage community and plans are underway to plan its future.
Currently there are approximately 8,500 homes in the Hillside area. The projected growth (10,000 - 15,000) calls for another 5,000 homes to be added to the area.
The Hillside area has much of the undeveloped space in the Anchorage Bowl. Much of this space is steep and hard to develop. Construction higher up the hillside can cause major problems for the homeowners 
located down the hill.
A district plan is entering its final stages after being developed by Hillside residents, city planners and consultants. The plan will guide development, population growth, open space, trails, roads, water and sewer service.
The new plan is in drafting stages, it will replace the Hillside Wastewater Management Plan and address issues more specifically than what has been outlined in the Anchorage 2020 Comprehensive Plan.
Some of the major proposals in the drafted plan are:
- Development requirements for building on the steeper slopes and the higher elevations of Hillside . Requirements for buffer zones, open spaces, trails, and roads will be established as well as drainage plans to deal with runoff.
- Building permit regulations and requirements to be expanded to include the southeastern portion of Hillside which falls outside of Anchorage 's Building Safety Service. This proposal will need to be approved by Hillside residents.
- Creating a new and larger service area to build and manage roads and drainage improvement. The possible creation of a separate entity to manage drainage and watershed problems. Fees would be charged to landowners for the financing of the "entity".
- Expand Anchorage 's tax-supported service area to include all of Hillside and would include also extend (about a mile) into Chugach State Park . The expansion would allow for community parks, park access, park maintenance and parking areas. The City of Anchorage would market bonds to finance the projects.
City planners have listened to the residents of the Hillside area. They are listening and responding all comments and suggestions concerning Hillside 's future. Although the official deadline for comments was yesterday, your input will still be considered if you make them in the next couple of days according to Chris Beck of Agnew Beck Consulting.
The Hillside plan will now go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then will be redrafted. In a few months public hearings will be held, once again. Begin checking the Hillside District Plan website for hearing dates around February.
The Hillside District plan is expected to be finalized and sent to the Anchorage Assembly by next summer.
Hillside District Plan Links:
Hillside District Plan website (www.hillsidedistrictplan.com) offers information on all the issues, who to contact and an online comment form
Live Hillside WebCam - see what's happening on the Hillside
Sign up for our Hillside District Plan newsletter, and receive periodic email updates.
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