June 25, 2026, Seward Folly Staff

Since the Blueberry Hill land issue first surfaced, residents of the Bear Creek Community Service Area have faced an ongoing challenge navigating a confusing and often opaque process. Since then, the Seward Folly newspaper was launched in April 2025, ensuring that public notices and vetted information reached everyone in the community. The Bear Creek Community Council was also formed, giving residents a recognized collective voice and keeping them informed of issues that affect their area. Throughout this process, citizens like Kathy and Bob Bingman have played a crucial role, working through official channels to clarify issues and press for transparent, fair decisions. What follows is a straightforward record of the events, decisions, and actions that have defined this effort.

Image of AMHTA 195 acre parcel and KPB purchased parcel from Stoney Creek

June 2024
A feasibility study for road access to Blueberry Hill is completed. The Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB) and the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority (AMHTA) split the $33,000 study cost. The purpose was to figure out whether a road could be built from the highway, across the 80-acre parcel (later purchased by the Borough from Stoney Creek Zipline), through a 195-acre parcel owned by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, and then into roughly 2,000 acres of borough-owned land proposed for future housing. The study evaluated three possible road routes, ultimately recommending a new “South Loop Alignment” with a steep grade but central access to borough land. The 195-acre Trust parcel sits directly between the newly acquired 80 acres and the larger borough tract.

February 5, 2025 — Assembly Meeting
The Kenai Peninsula Borough assembly approved the $1.2 million purchase of an 80-acre parcel known as Blueberry Hill, previously owned by Talkeetna-based Stoney Holdings LLC (Stoney Creek Zipline). The intent is to use this 80-acre parcel to provide road access through the Trust’s 195 acres and into a much larger, borough-owned area of approximately 2,000 acres for eventual housing development. Borough officials say the main goal is to help address the region’s housing shortage by opening up land for new construction. The purchase was supported by Seward city officials. Cindy Ecklund, the assembly member representing Seward, cast the only vote against the purchase, arguing that $1.2 million is too much to pay for an access point.

June 26, 2025
The Seward Folly reports that the core purpose of the Borough’s purchase of the 80-acre Blueberry Hill parcel is to create access for future residential development. The plan is for a new road to run from the highway, across the 80 acres, through the 195-acre Alaska Mental Health Trust parcel, and into about 2,000 acres of borough-owned land. While officials hope this will help address the local housing shortage, residents raise concerns about the plan’s impact, especially given the limitations of local infrastructure and the critical role of the Trust’s land in the overall access scheme.

February 5, 2026
A resident commentary published on Seward Folly questions the Borough’s $1.2 million purchase of the 80-acre Blueberry Hill property, emphasizing that the key to accessing the 2,000-acre borough-owned tract is the 195-acre parcel held by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, which sits between the new borough purchase and the larger housing area. The commentary raises questions about the price, the borough’s real motives, the role of the Trust’s land, and the lack of clear communication about how all these parcels fit together. The installation of a gate restricting access to public land, which also encroaches on private property, is cited as a further concern.

March 12 & 26, 2026
The AMHTA announces plans to sell several land parcels statewide, including Blueberry Hill, over a three-year period starting in 2027. The news is posted on Seward Folly and is not a surprise to locals, given the earlier feasibility study and KPB land purchase. Residents are informed about the public comment process required by law before such sales, but many feel blindsided and call for more transparency from local officials.

April 1, 2026
Mayor Micciche schedules a town hall meeting at the Seward Library to address questions and concerns, including the Blueberry Hill sale and related land development plans.

April 16, 2026
Bob and Kathy Bingman publish a letter to Questa Woods neighbors detailing the potential impact of the Blueberry Hill land sale. They outline several concerns:

• The sale of the 195-acre parcel as a single tract likely means commercial development.
• Existing road infrastructure in Questa Woods is inadequate for increased traffic.
• Flooding and limited emergency access (one entry/exit point) present safety risks.
• Water availability is already a problem for current residents. The Bingmans propose delaying the sale and pursuing a land trade for a property accessible from Nash Road, sparing existing neighborhoods. They urge residents to participate in the public comment process to preserve their legal rights and amplify community concerns through a collective letter to the AMHTA.

April 20, 2026
Deadline for residents to submit written comments on the proposed land sale to preserve their eligibility for formal reconsideration or appeal.

May 21, 2026
The Trust Land Office publishes its “Best Interest Decision Affirmed,” responding to public comments about the Blueberry Hill parcel.

June 3, 2026
The TLO receives a formal request for reconsideration from Bob and Kathy Bingman, representing the Seward Residents Collaborative.

June 2026 — Kathy Bingman’s Speech on Blueberry Hill

Kathy Bingman addressed the Blueberry Hill Citizens’ Committee regarding the proposed land sale. In her speech, she summarized the timeline and the neighborhood’s concerns:

The Kenai Peninsula Borough bought 80 acres in Questa Woods (the old zipline property) to build a road through the neighborhood, cross a 195-acre Trust parcel, and reach 2,300 acres of borough land intended for future housing. Although the need for housing is understood, the community insisted that large-scale development must address real infrastructure challenges: heavy construction traffic, increased vehicle flow, and neighborhood safety hazards like the railroad crossing, a narrow bridge, and multiple sharp turns.

Despite suggesting an alternative access route from Nash Road (avoiding residential areas), the borough pushed ahead. The purchase was contingent on a feasibility study, which, once completed, greenlit the sale. The Trust Land Office (TLO) then issued a “Best Interest Decision” (BID) announcing the proposed land sale, prompting 88 Questa Woods and Seward residents to submit a collaborative letter of concern.

The TLO’s initial response was to affirm the BID, and the only recourse was a formal objection, which the community submitted on June 3, 2026.

Key issues raised in Kathy Bingman’s speech included:

• Lack of transparency: The BID described a single 195-acre lot, but the Trust later revealed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the borough to subdivide and develop the parcel, which was never disclosed in the BID.
• Public process failings: The TLO counted 88 signatories as a single comment and withheld material information about the MOA and the joint funding of the road study.
• The BID was generic, applying the same language to all parcels, despite Blueberry Hill being unique in its scale and impact; it was the only parcel to receive a public comment.

Kathy emphasized that the community’s goal was not to prevent the Trust from earning revenue, but to ensure a fair, transparent, and accurate process. She called for a parcel-specific decision with full disclosure and public input.

The outcome:
On the day of her speech, the TLO sent official notice that the Blueberry Hill parcel was withdrawn from the land sale program for now, with a written commitment that future actions will comply with all state laws and regulations. While questions remain about the borough’s and Trust’s collaboration, the withdrawal was seen as a victory for the community, and every resident’s participation was acknowledged as crucial. The role of Seward Folly in publicizing the process and Assemblywoman Cindy Ecklund’s support were also recognized.

June 21, 2026
Bob and Kathy Bingman and others who signed the collaborative letter receive a certified letter from the TLO, stating that the 195-acre Blueberry Hill parcel will be withdrawn from the current sale. The TLO assures that, should the parcel be considered for disposal in the future, all state laws and regulations will be followed.

The Blueberry Hill issue has shown how much time, energy, and clear thinking are required for real community action. Residents came together, formed new organizations, and demanded to be part of the process. Regular people took on the hard work, reading public notices, writing letters, attending meetings, and insisting on transparency. Bear Creek residents set an example by using the system to push for clear and fair decisions. Their persistence, and the collective effort of the Bear Creek community, shows that the public process works.