Commonwealth North is a nonpartisan public policy forum in Alaska that convenes business, civic, and political leaders to study state issues and host public discussions.
Anchorage, AK, USA
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Sean Debenham
“that represents 30% lot coverage ratio. 30%. Now, that's interesting because R-3, which is the zone that I'm in, allows 40%, right? So I missed out by 30%. I could have increased the number of units if I had actually been able to get to 40% just simply because of existing Title 21 setbacks and other types of regulations that they have.”Alaska's Housing Shortage: The Factors That Cause It & The Levers We Control - 8/27/26 · Aug 28, 2026
Tyler Robinson
“Obviously, not having to do these things is a big deal. It saves cost. It saves a ton of time. We have two developments right now that are underway because a process requirement has been suspended.”Alaska's Housing Shortage: The Factors That Cause It & The Levers We Control - 8/27/26 · Aug 28, 2026
Sean Debenham
“we need a comprehensive setback analysis of our Title 21 code that's 1,000 pages.”Alaska's Housing Shortage: The Factors That Cause It & The Levers We Control - 8/27/26 · Aug 28, 2026
Bob Dole
“That cost them hundreds of— actually, thousands of dollars and a 3-month delay in construction. That's why we are going forward to address where— to give the Director the authority to just deal with these de minimis variances rather than tie up the cost, the delay, the risk of missing a building season”Alaska's Housing Shortage: The Factors That Cause It & The Levers We Control - 8/27/26 · Aug 28, 2026
Tyler Robinson
“So right now it's paused. It could come back in 2028.”Alaska's Housing Shortage: The Factors That Cause It & The Levers We Control - 8/27/26 · Aug 28, 2026
Bob Dole
“what really excites me is what we're doing now, rolling out first quarter of next year, which is a new permit management system.”Alaska's Housing Shortage: The Factors That Cause It & The Levers We Control - 8/27/26 · Aug 28, 2026
Alaska lost 15.8% of its federal civilian workers in two years, ISER economist reports
Alaska shed 15.8% of its federal civilian workforce from 2024 to 2026, above the national rate, an economist told a forum, with the losses coming mostly through buyouts.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 4w ago2 min readAI
Federal money built Alaska's recent growth — now it's receding fastest here
UAA economists say federal spending drove about half of Alaska's growth since 2015 — and the state is now losing federal workers faster than most, hitting rural areas hardest.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
Enstar faces 2033 supply gap as Hilcorp contract expires, no Cook Inlet producer can match drilling scale
Enstar Natural Gas faces losing its primary gas supply in 2033 when its contract with Hilcorp expires, leaving Southcentral Alaska utilities with no Cook Inlet producer capable of matching the scale of investment that has kept the basin producing for the past decade.
by Bill AlaskaNews2mo ago2 min readAI
SBA freeze threatens Alaska Native corporations' $9B federal footprint
A freeze on new applications to the federal 8(a) contracting program threatens future revenue for Alaska Native corporations that generated $9 billion in federal work in 2022 and returned $300 million to shareholders last year.
by Alaska Newsadded 2mo ago2 min readAI
Trump administration stalls 8(a) applications for Alaska Native corporations
The Small Business Administration has stopped processing new 8(a) applications for Alaska Native corporation subsidiaries, blocking future contracting access as the administration reviews federal procurement practices.
by Alaska Newsadded 2mo ago2 min readAI