Posts

Jonesville Project - Public Outreach Summary and Next Steps

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  Over the past several months, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough has conducted a comprehensive public outreach effort to inform and engage the community on the future of the Jonesville area. This process included multiple open house meetings, stakeholder discussions, and opportunities for public comment, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives were considered. Community input played a critical role in shaping the project. Feedback gathered throughout the outreach phase helped identify key priorities, concerns, and opportunities, which were incorporated into the evaluation of alternatives. Through this collaborative process, a preferred alternative has been developed that reflects both community values and project objectives. This was presented at the January 21st Meeting , and the exhibit for the preferred alternative is also at the end of this post. With the completion of the public outreach phase, the project is now advancing into the next stage. The preferred alternative will be...
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Public Meeting#3 Written Comments

 The following comments were written and submitted at the January 21st public meeting. Comment #1 Please get the cost estimate of a fully enclosed (short distance) facility. We need to know what the "pie in the sky" silent option costs. Thank you. Comment #2 Regulate size of guns. Limit automatic repeat machine gun types of weapons Ban explosives and canons Have some closed days with no shooting in the area, and limit hours. Stay away from lake and roads  Comment #3 Given the history of  users, can the balance of funding go for something other than shooting? Comment #4 I don't want my property tax dollars to pay for maintenance of the shooting range. Have a user fee. Comment #5 Crazy idea - start a gofundme or similar website to help raise the rest of the money needed. Why not? Comment #6 None of the people who attend these meetings or are a part of planning are part of the problem. Its the few people who ruin it for everyone else. I live one mile from Slipper Lake and ho...
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January 21 Public Meeting Summary

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The meeting was composed of a presentation, questions and answers with the audience followed by the opportunity for direct interaction with client and team. The presentation can be viewed or downloaded using this link 2026-01-21 Meeting#3 Presentation .  The exhibits are also provided directly here (lower quality than the pdf link above).  Project Overview Operations and Maintenance Location Selection Location of Site Location of Site - Enlargement  Location of Site - Enlargement  Previous Options - From November 6th, 2025 Public Open House Public review and comments on these options resulted in the development of the options presented at the December 11th open house.  Previous Options - From December 11th, 2025 Public Open House Public review and comments on these options resulted in the development of the preferred option presented at the January 21st, 2026 meeting. Qualitative Public Input on Amount and Type of Shooting Facilities At the December 11th, 2025 ...
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Additional Comments Received

Received via Online Comment Collector (As of January 21st, 2026) Order of comments is from oldest at the beginning to newest at the end. Use this link to see previous comments: https://msb-jonesville.blogspot.com/2025/12/comments-received-to-date.html Online Comment 22 Hello great start! We appreciate everyone's efforts! This complex can turn into an Alaskan premier destination to host great events AND provide great recreational shooting! Thank you!   NRA and CMP State and Regional tournaments can be accommodated by a 100/200/300/500 yard rifle distances and 50 and 25 yard pistol ranges. Turning targets at 25 yards for pistol would be wonderful.   High power Silhouette matches would need targets at 200/300/385/500 meters for steel and 40/50/77/100 meters for 22 LR.   Small Bore Rifle NRA matches would need 25/50/100 yard meter ranges,   Rimfire Long Gong requires a 300 yard steel range.     Please keep those thoughts in mind for short term and long...
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Public Meeting - January 21st from 5:00pm to 7:00pm

  You are invited to a Public Meeting on   Wednesday, January  21st , to participate in the development of a plan for the Jonesville Shooting Range and Park. The meeting will provide two identical sessions (one beginning at 5:00pm, and one beginning at 6:00pm) . Borough and Department of Natural Resources staff will provide project background and introductions, and the project team will provide a brief presentation of the current preferred alternative for the development of the Shooting Range area. After these briefings, attendees are invited to  interact with the project team and provide your input (similar to the open house interactions of the previous two meetings). The project team continues to appreciate your knowledge of the site and your thoughts on the plan as it evolves. The meeting will be held in the Sutton Elementary School Gym (11672 Wright Way, Sutton-Alpine, AK 99674).
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Comments Received to Date

Below are the written comments we received at the December 11th public open house, and the comments that we have received to date through the comment collector or email. December 11th Public Open House – Received Comments These comments were written on comment cards at the open house. In-Meeting Comment 1 I live by 17 mile lake. By FAR the biggest concern in my neighborhood is the sound. I highly request & suggest a restriction on muzzle brakes. On a 300 yard put metal targets at different distances that represent vital zones of game [animals]. The Glennallen range has this. A skeet range would be fantastic! In-Meeting Comment   2 JPUA needs more toilets planned in phase 1 of construction for campers around the lake and for day users (ATV riders). Create a sound barrier on the "back" side of the firing line for 1) Landowners and neighbors on the south side of JPUA, 2) safety for the shooters to have a "solid" area behind them. In-Meeting Commen...
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Reduction of Noise Through Design and Regulation

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At both public open houses and through submitted comments, the project team has heard that the noise of a shooting range is a significant concern. This post provides more information on the options we will pursue to reduce noise:      A) Restrictions on locations where shooting may occur,      B) The development of a designated shooting range (designed to NRA safety guidelines), and      C) Shooting range design elements to reduce off-site noise.  A) Restrictions on locations where shooting may occur The public has raised concerns about the noise and disruption caused by shooting at the gravel pit at the corner of Jonesville Mine Road North and Jonesville Mine Road West.   On December 12th, the Department of Natural Resources – Division of Mining, Land and Water, released a public notice (PRJ 234760) regarding the potential to restrict the use and discharge of weapons within material site ADL 231498. This notice is available at this...
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