After hearing testimony from Homer residents via teleconference and in person, and receiving numerous written comments favoring the move, the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly reclassified 10 acres in the Ohlson Mountain area from residential to recreational, keeping it part of a 90-acre parcel of world-class ski trails.

Resolution 2009-099 -- introduced by outgoing Assembly President Milli Martin, who represents the southern Kenai Peninsula excluding the city of Homer, Bill Smith, who represents the city of Homer, and Borough Mayor Dave Carey -- was part of the assembly's consent agenda for its Tuesday meeting in Soldotna.

In 2007, the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club petitioned the borough for the classification and an application to lease the 90 acres. In 2008, a report by borough staff indicated the potential for residential development of two or three sites within the 10 acres in question. After hearing public testimony in April 2008 favoring recreational development, the KPB Planning Commission recommended unanimously that the 90 acres be classified recreational.

However, the assembly adopted Resolution 2008-043 classifying 80 acres recreational and the remaining 10 as residential.

In July 2009, Martin and Smith petitioned the borough to reclassify the 10-acre parcel as recreational, in keeping with the borough's trails plan to promote winter tourism and its 2005 comprehensive plan supporting recreational use of borough land.

In a September memo to the assembly and planning commission, Martin and Smith noted a trail system designed for the entire area, including the 10 acres in question, by Bill Spender, an Olympic skier and professional engineer who designs trail systems.

"If the trails are re-routed, which would be required if the parcel is subdivided, the integrity and continuity of the trail system would be lost," Martin and Smith wrote in their three-page memo.

"This is a world class skiing-competition venue that will see increased use over the next years, to the benefit of the borough and the city of Homer, to say nothing for the benefit to our local students and residents," they wrote.

Before the assembly voted whether to accept the consent agenda, which included several other ordinances and resolutions, the public was invited to comment.

Taz Talley of Homer, author of "50 Hikes in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula," pointed out how the area is suitable for skiers of all skill levels, as well as competitive events.

"There has been a lot of strong support for this project in the past year. I haven't heard from anyone favoring residential," Homer resident Stuart Schmutzler testified from the Homer borough office in support of the "first-class ski area."

"This is a wonderful opportunity to support winter tourism," Schmutzler said, adding that if developed as ski trails, the area would bring "paybacks for years to come."

Claire Waxman, owner of Homer Saw and Cycle, said she was wearing two hats in her testimony, one as a business owner and one as a Homer resident.

"I only see benefits," Waxman said of developing the area for recreational use. "We want more people coming to the area for these emerging first class ski trails. Once the trails are in place, there will be businesses that branch off from that."

Laura Burton, who lives on Diamond Ridge, pointed to the outdoor recreational opportunities offered by the ski trails as "something that keeps a lot of kids off the streets."

Describing it as a "world class ski area," Richard Gustafson said the Ohlson Mountain area was one of the first and last places to have snow, offering extended skiing opportunities for local and visiting skiers.

"It is time for the borough to fully support the efforts of its citizens to create and maintain recreational facilities at no cost to the public," Kenton Bloom said in written comments to Carey. "I am sure you can deliver the leadership necessary to see this reclassification successfully implemented."

Via teleconference Tuesday, Bloom said to the assembly, "I know you'll do what's right and let what's good be good."

Speaking in person at the assembly's chambers in Soldotna, Kachemak Nordic Ski Club President Alan Parks summed up the testimony, reviewing the many events already scheduled for the area, the amount of local effort invested in the trails' development and the overwhelming support for the 10-acre reclassification.

With no one speaking against the resolution or any discussion among assembly members, it received unanimous approval as part of the consent agenda.

Among other items approved on the consent agenda were:

* Ordinance 2009-19-09, appropriating $82,554 in supplemental funding for Kachemak Emergency Service Area: $10,000 to remodel the fire station for an administrative assistance office and storage of safety equipment; $23,000 to purchase personal protective and firefighting equipment; $30,000 to improve communications with installation of a repeater in the Diamond Ridge area; and $19,544 to make the chief and assistant chief's pay comparable to their job duties.

* Ordinance 2009-19-11, appropriating $21,725 to expand the Kenai Peninsula Borough recycling program in Homer, for annual expenses related to hauling a recycle container from the Homer Spit to the Homer Baling Facility and hauling recycled bales to Anchorage.

Tuesday was Martin's last meeting as a member of the assembly. She was elected to serve the southern Kenai Peninsula in 2000 and re-elected in 2002, 2003 and 2006. However, term limits passed by the borough in 2007 made Martin ineligible for re-election earlier this month.

Mako Haggerty was elected to that spot and, along with other newly elected assembly members, was sworn in at Tuesday's meeting.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.