April 16, 2026, Seward Folly

Commentary submitted by Bob and Kathy Bingman

Dear Questa Woods Neighbors,

We are writing to share important information about an upcoming land sale that has the potential to significantly affect the Questa Woods subdivision and the quality of life we all value here.

The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) Trust Land Office (TLO), through its Statewide Land Sale Program (pursuant to AS 38.05.801 and 11 AAC 99), is preparing to sell 195 acres commonly known as the “Blueberry Hill area.” This property borders land that was recently owned by the prior zipline operation and is now held by the Kenai Peninsula Borough. A road to Blueberry Hill will be accessed via the zipline land. The implication of this sale deserves the attention of every resident in Questa Woods and Seward.

The following is background information on the issue. Drop down to the bottom of the page for action you can take now.

The Sale and What It Means for Our Community

Under the AMHTA TLO Statewide Land Sale Program, this 195-acre parcel will be sold as a single, undivided tract. It is not being subdivided. A purchase of this size and scale would require a buyer with substantial financial resources — deep pockets — making commercial development the most probable outcome.

Even if a housing developer were to acquire the land, the cost of required infrastructure — individual wells, septic systems, and electrical installation for each lot — would price homes well beyond the reach of median-income buyers. It is also worth noting that water availability has already proven to be a challenge for existing homeowners whose properties border the Blueberry Hill area.

Traffic and Road Infrastructure Concerns

This is perhaps the most immediately tangible issue for every one of us. The Questa Woods road network was designed exclusively for low-density residential use. Our roads are two-lane, partly paved and partly gravel. A significant increase in traffic from any development — commercial or otherwise — would strain infrastructure that already has notable limitations:

• A railroad crossing at the neighborhood’s entry point
• The Stoney Creek Bridge, which is narrow — barely wide enough for two lanes of traffic
• Chronic pothole development during inclement weather

These factors combined make our road system poorly suited for the volume of traffic that commercial or large-scale development would generate.

Flooding and Emergency Access — A Safety Concern

Recurring flooding on Bruno Road has occurred in the past and remains an ongoing concern for residents in our area.

However, the most critical safety issue is this: our neighborhood currently has only a single entry and exit point. In the event of an evacuation emergency — such as a wildfire — the lack of a secondary access route poses a serious danger to every resident of Questa Woods. This vulnerability would only be compounded by increased development and the additional traffic it would bring.

A Possible Solution

We would like to propose the postponement of the sale of Blueberry Hill and concentrate efforts on a land trade with Alaska DNR for a more suitable property accessible from Nash Road, accessing the property in a dedicated new access road without disturbing existing neighborhoods. (More details will be addressed in the final letter to the AMHTA.)

Your Rights Under Alaska Law

Under AS 38.05.801, Alaska Mental Health Trust land must be managed in a manner consistent with the trust principles established by the Alaska Mental Health Enabling Act (P.L. 84-830). The statute further requires that governing regulations address four key obligations: maintenance of the trust land base, management for the benefit of the trust and its beneficiaries, long-term sustained yield, and multiple use of trust land. Residents should carefully consider whether the sale of this 195-acre parcel as a single, undivided tract — effectively opening the door to large-scale commercial development — is truly consistent with these foundational principles.

Importantly, under 11 AAC 99.040, before any disposal of trust land can proceed, the TLO Executive Director is required to prepare a formal written “best interest decision.” This document must describe the proposed action in detail, state why the action is in the best interest of the Trust and its beneficiaries, cite the legal authority under which the action is being taken, and specifically address any inconsistencies with the trust management principles set out in 11 AAC 99.020. This best interest decision is a critical document — it is the foundation upon which the legality and appropriateness of this land sale rests.

As a resident, you have important rights in this process. Under 11 AAC 99.050 and 11 AAC 99.060, public notice is required before a disposal of trust land is finalized, and any person who believes the written best interest decision is not in the best interest of the Trust or its beneficiaries — or is inconsistent with the provisions of 11 AAC 99 — may submit written comments during the designated public notice period. 

This step is essential: to be eligible to file for reconsideration of the best interest decision, or to file a subsequent appeal to the Superior Court, a person must have submitted written comments during the public notice period. After the final best interest decision is published, eligible persons have twenty (20) calendar days to request reconsideration. If you have concerns about this sale, submitting written comments during the notice period is the single most important step you can take to protect your legal standing.

Stay Informed, Stay Engaged

This is our community, and its future matters to all of us. We encourage every Questa Woods and Seward resident to stay informed about this land sale and to actively engage with the process. Most importantly, submit your written comments during the public notice period to preserve your legal standing for any future reconsideration or appeal.

Written comments may be submitted to the Trust Land Office at the following:

• Mail: Trust Land Office, 2600 Cordova Street, Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99503
• Fax: (907) 269-8905
• Email: mhtlo@alaska.gov
• Copies of the written best interest decision are available at the Trust Land Office or online at https://alaskamentalhealthtrust.org/trust-land-office/. If you have questions, the TLO can be reached by phone at (907) 269-8658. Together, our awareness and involvement are our strongest assets.

Add Your Name — Make Our Voice Heard

We understand that not every resident has the time or inclination to draft an individual letter to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. Life is busy, and the formal comment process can feel daunting. You should not have to be a policy expert to have a say in the future of your own neighborhood.

To that end, in the coming days a collective letter will be composed and submitted in person to AMHTA Office in Anchorage on Monday, April 20, on behalf of the entire Questa Woods and Seward community. This letter will articulate the shared concerns outlined above — traffic and road safety, flooding, emergency access, water availability, and the broader impact of large-scale development on our subdivision — in a clear, substantive format designed to carry maximum weight in the public comment process.

Crucially, this letter will carry the names of as many Questa Woods and Seward residents as we can gather. A submission signed by dozens of directly affected homeowners and residents speaks with a force that no single letter can match. It demonstrates to the Trust Land Office that these are not isolated concerns — they are the unified position of an entire neighborhood.

If you would like your name included as a signatory on the community letter, please send an email to bingman@seward.net with the following:

• Your permission to include your name as a signatory on the collective letter to AMHTA.
• Your physical or mailing address. This distinction matters when the Trust Land Office evaluates the substance and credibility of the comments it receives.  All Seward residents have the right to object to this sale.

Time is limited.  Please submit your permission by noon Sunday, April 19 to bingman@seward.net.  The more names we gather, the more weight our collective voice will carry – every signature counts, and every neighbor who participates makes our position stronger.

This is our opportunity to stand together as a community. Let us make certain that the people who will decide the future of the land next to our homes hear from the people who live here.

To better understand the purpose of the AMHTA, go to the Frequently Asked Questions website at:  Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority – Alaska Mental Health Trust

Blueberry Hill land purchase questioned

Dispose of Trust Parcels: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=223010IListing of Parcels to be sold:  https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/Attachment.aspx?id=160468