McCarthy:—On November 25th fifteen McCarthy Area Council (MAC) members and locals met at the Blackburn Center. On the agenda were topics such as McCarthy Creek access and area road upgrades and maintenance.
Since the last MAC meeting of October 22, a preliminary survey of McCarthy Creek southside landowners has been sent out to help determine what kind of access is most desired. The survey requested the ranking of McCarthy Creek crossing options. Options included a tram, nothing, status quo, ATV capable bridge, a footbridge or a one-lane vehicle bridge.
Long-time MAC member, Meg Hunt, commented that the incoming responses will help refine the options leading to a group decision. She also noted that the traffic across the creek and down the Nizina Road is likely to continue to increase based on the current southside property owners as they begin to build and spend more time in the area. In addition, there is reason to speculate that there will be more property owners in years to come if and when the University creates new subdivisions.
Another MAC member, Neil Darish, an owner of McCarthy Lodge said he applauds the idea of learning the southside owners’s opinions and looks forward to knowing what McCarthy town residents think, as well.
Parking in McCarthy is presently a serious problem. Those who live in the perimeters of the town are finding the scattered vehicles not only an eye sore but a vehicle can unknowingly block necessary access to cabins or local businesses. This does motivate some to cast a wistful eye at a vehicular bridge which would enable landowners on the southside of the creek to take their vehicles home or at least across the creek. The few roads that meander through downtown McCarthy and to residential cabins are narrow and leave little room for parked cars. A small number of southside residents have received permission from individual McCarthy landowners to park their vehicle on private property. Even, then, the lots are small and leave very little room for extra vehicles and/or freighting materials.
