KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
The Kodiak Island Borough Assembly held a private meeting about the Alaska Aerospace Corporation’s use of borough land last week.
AAC operates a launch site, the Pacific Spaceport Complex, in Narrow Cape.
The assembly entered executive session after its regular meeting Thursday in order to seek legal advice from the borough attorney about “compelling Alaska Aerospace Corporation to comply with borough land use ordinances.”
Several people spoke during public comment, including Mike Sirofchuck, who said the legal opinion should be made public.
“The community deserves to know exactly how much control the borough can exert over the industrial development that is rapidly overtaking one of the largest areas of recreational public land accessible on our road system.”
Before the assembly entered executive session, borough manager Michael Powers read a statement.
He explained the borough has asked AAC about construction activity at the Pacific Spaceport Complex and requested that the corporation apply to the borough before moving forward on land changes.
“Alaska Aerospace has asserted that it has no obligation to obtain a zoning compliance permit because it is exempt from municipal zoning authority by state statuette.”
AAC has stated intentions of expanding.
A small-rocket company called Rocket Lab expressed interest in the facility as a possible site for its second launch pad.
