The Anchorage Assembly rejected a resolution Saturday that would have required the administration to increase parking at the Basher Trailhead from 45 to 60 spaces.

The resolution failed 5-6 after debate over whether the assembly should override a community-driven design process. The project had been scaled back from an originally planned 80 to 100 spaces through public input at the 35 percent and 65 percent design stages. Voters approved funding through the Chugach State Park Access Service Area bond.

Assembly Vice Chair Brawley raised equity concerns. "Who are our public lands for?" Brawley said. "It is troubling to me that, and I understand the arguments, I understand that there is a complex, really dynamic, and network of interests in this town."

Assembly Chair Constant argued the reduction represented a failure to deliver what voters had funded. "We resisted and said, wait, let's pick one project that we can be successful at. Let's pick one, Basher. And we did. In good faith, we came to the table and the study showed 80 to 100 was what was needed," Constant said.

Constant warned the project would leave less parking than currently exists once no-parking signs are installed along Basher Road. "The net outcome of that is less parking than we have now, but they have a better road, they have better infrastructure, and we paid for it," Constant said.

Assembly Member Martinez defended the community process that led to the reduction. "The difference between following a process and then being heavy-handed is the difference between what this resolution is attempting to do in a very heavy-handed way versus recognizing that there was a process and there was a change as a result of the process," Martinez said.

Martinez noted the 65 percent design plans were published March 30, at least a week before the bond election. Voters had access to the reduced parking plan before voting. "It's been expressed that voters were voting on something that is not demonstrable by the fact," Martinez said.

The administration defended the design process as balancing multiple concerns. An administration official said the project responded to community feedback while still improving access. The lot would increase parking from barely 16 spaces to 45 along with other improvements. The official said the administration listened to neighborhood comments while not granting all requests. Many comments called for no parking lot at all.

The public input process included a survey open for one month that informed the 65 percent design. Administration officials confirmed the survey was not compromised and represented legitimate community feedback.

An assembly member who opposed the resolution said it would effectively kill the project if the assembly refused to approve contracts that did not meet the 60-space requirement. "By sitting here tonight that we will not approve a contract unless it meets the goals of this body specifically, we are effectively trying to tie the hands of members of the body who will not even, who are not even here yet," the member said.

The assembly did approve an amendment striking a section of the resolution that would have prevented future assemblies from appropriating funds for the project unless it included sufficient parking capacity. That amendment passed 9-2.

An assembly member estimated the difference between 45 and 60 spaces would generate roughly 120 additional car trips per day. An administration official confirmed no formal traffic study had been conducted for the project.

The 65 percent design includes planning for a potential future expansion of 15 to 30 additional parking spaces if the initial lot reaches capacity. An administration official said expanding from 45 to 60 spaces now would cost between $200,000 and $300,000. Building a new 15-space lot later would likely cost more due to mobilization expenses.

The Basher Trailhead project received $300,000 in design funding from Proposition 9 CASA bond and is proposed to receive $1.5 million for construction in the 2026 CASA bond. The Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission approved the 45-space design in Resolution 2026-02 on April 9.

Constant said the debate had soured the CASA program for him despite his previous support. "I am being made an anti-hero of the CASA program. I'm going to become its opponent in its future iterations, and I hate that. I voted to put it on the ballot the first time. I've supported every project that came forward. I voted yes for all of them," Constant said.

The 65 percent design plans remain under review through April 24, with construction planned for summer 2026. The Basher Trailhead is one of five parking areas along Basher Road providing access to Chugach State Park trails. The bond also included funding for Lost Cabin Trail improvements and Stewart's Trail wayfinding.