Plan

Matanuska-Susitna Borough Historic Preservation Plan

The Mat-Su participates in the preservation structure through its status as a Certified Local Government (CLG). A Certified Local Government (CLG) is a local government certified by the state to participate in federal historic preservation funding and programs. Requirements include having a historic preservation commission, a historic preservation plan, and local review process for projects that may have an impact on historic resources

As a requirement of CLG status, the Historical Preservation Commission drafted a historic preservation plan, which was adopted by the Assembly in 1987. This plan focused on objectives and actions for Mat-Su Borough cultural resources staff to focus on in accordance with CLG status. The goal of the plan was to conserve important historic and prehistoric resources, including artifacts, archaeological sites, buildings, writings, and oral histories within the Mat-Su to benefit those in the present and future. Four objectives specifically called out in the 1987 plan were (1) Identification of Cultural Resources (2) Evaluation of Cultural Resources for the National Register of Historic Places (3) Registration of Cultural Resources for the National Register of Historic Places and (4) Protection of Cultural Resources.

The plan includes an extensive list of actions for each objective, including a list of cultural resource surveys to accomplish, methods for evaluating, cataloging and prioritizing resources, potential “support groups” to participate in or support preservation activities, and a list of techniques and tools the Mat-Su Borough and private property owners could use for historic preservation purposes.

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Historic Preservation Plan Update

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is updating its Historic Preservation Plan! The plan update began in 2020, with a focus on community-developed priorities. The process was split into two phases. Phase I focused primarily on stakeholder and public outreach to better gauge public sentiment about and understanding of historic preservation in the Borough. This culminated in drafting the updated plan’s mission, vision, goals, and strategies, guiding the work done in Phase II.

Phase II started in 2022 and consisted of building out a framework for the updated plan that would allow the document to be user-friendly, informative, and justify continued work in the field of historic preservation based on public and stakeholder goals. Additional outreach was conducted through public meetings and stakeholder conversations. The process has been delayed due to staff turnover, but we are currently working on completing the final draft, which will be available for public review and comment soon.