Natural Resources Position: LAND USE

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STATEMENT OF POSITION

The League of Women Voters of Alaska supports good land use planning; the formulation, implementation, and enforcement of comprehensive plans (including regional plans) for the use of all lands in the State of Alaska; the ensuring of coordination and cooperation among state, federal, municipal, and private land owners; and placement of responsibility for making and enforcing land use decisions on the lowest level of government immediately concerned with the land in question.

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The League of Women Voters of Alaska believes the essential elements of comprehensive land planning should:

· Include citizen participation, education, communication, and on-going evaluation;

· Provide the public with alternatives and with possible consequences of their choices;

· Compile and catalog resources inventories to aid in land use decisions and to be available to all citizens when preparing impact statements, appeals, and testimonies;

· Identify and plan for areas of critical concern to the State and for areas where land use decisions have statewide impact;

· Research and establish innovative resource management systems and cooperative uses of the land;

· Evaluate social, environmental, and economic impact prior to any major public or private development or disposal;

· Formulate land policy to ensure optimum use of the land after considering environmental, social, and economic interests as well as all available information concerning each area.

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Adopted 1975; Revised 1979, 1985; Reaffirmed each year since at LWVAK Convention

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League of Women Voters of Alaska – April 2001 - 14 -