Proposed Title 21 Rewrite Criticized for Cost to Developers

The rewritten code lays out specific requirements for home design and property layout, and businesses said it comes with a tangible cost.

Tools

By Kirsten Swann

Story Created: Oct 13, 2011 at 12:24 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 13, 2011 at 12:24 PM AKDT

With more than 600 pages, the Title 21 rewrite has been called one of the most important pieces of legislation in Anchorage history.

The code governs zoning and property design citywide, and its revision has garnered strong opinions from both sides of the political spectrum.

“I don’t believe central planning works,” said former Anchorage Assemblyman Dan Coffey, a vocal opponent of the revised code; Coffey was hired by Mayor Dan Sullivan to review the rewrite and make recommendations. “It didn’t work for the U.S.S.R and it probably won’t work very well for us.”

It’s also generated continued public comment over the years, from chamber of commerce forums to assembly hearings and community debates.

But for local developers, there’s nothing political about it. The rewritten code lays out specific requirements for home design and property layout, and businesses said it comes with a tangible cost.

"Instead of three trees you're gonna have nine trees. There are some added windows, they want the front porch to face the street and be covered,” said Andre Spinelli, design and development manager at Spinell Homes.

According to Spinelli, if you compare a basic 3-bedroom, 2-car garage house on a single-family lot under the old code with the new code, the result would be an additional $7,000 to the cost of an average $250,000 home.

He said it’s a number that could have a profound effect on a first-time home buyer.

Now, the code will be sent to the Anchorage Planning and Zoning Commission for review before it is forwarded to the Anchorage Assembly for final review and a vote.

But at the end of the day, it all comes down to dollars and cents.

"You'll be able to see the trees, but you won't be able to choose whether you have those trees,” Spinelli said. “They're forced on you by the government."

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Oct 19 at 5:11 PM

One word, "Communism".

75577688
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.