Kenai Peninsula residents in and around the city of Soldotna have until June 19 to submit their comments on the preliminary report regarding Soldotna’s petition to annex 2.63 square miles of land near the city.

Staff for the state’s Local Boundary Commission released their preliminary report on the annexation petition on May 18, stating in the 32-page report that the petition meets the state’s standards for annexation and recommending that the LBC approve the petition as presented.

“Local Boundary Commission staff recommends approval of the petition as presented because the services currently provided by the City of Soldotna can be reasonably and efficiently extended to the annexed territory, an area where residents and businesses are already receiving the benefits of city services,” the report reads

The annexation proposal would add 2.63 square miles to the city’s existing boundaries and would incorporate five distinct areas along Funny River Road, Kalifornsky Beach Road, the Kenai Spur Highway and the Sterling Highway.

During the process of writing the preliminary report, LBC staff received public comments from 19 people, with 15 opposed and four in favor of annexation.

Public comment on the results of the preliminary report will be received until 4:30 p.m. on June 19. Comments can be emailed to lbc@alaska.gov or mailed to the following address:

Local Boundary Commission staff

Division of Community and Regional Affairs

550 W. 7th Ave. Suite 1640

Anchorage, AK 99501

A final report and second recommendation will be issued by LBC staff on or around July 20 of this year. Following the release of the final report, the Local Boundary Commission will conduct a public hearing on the petition in August.