What you need to know:
- A lawsuit filed this month against the Department of Natural Resources and Gov. Mike Dunleavy challenges a planned no-cost transfer of 30 square miles of state land near Houston, Willow and Meadow Lakes to AIDEA, arguing that it is unconstitutional.
- The suit was filed on behalf of Juneau resident Eric Forrer and former state Rep. David Eastman. Forrer said the lawsuit aims to prevent Dunleavy from advancing the transfer before he leaves office in early December.
- The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly, Houston City Council, Meadow Lakes Community Council and Willow Area Community Organization have passed resolutions opposing the transfer.
- Short on time but need the local news scoop? Get free weekly news in your inbox for Mat-Su, from Mat-Su.
PALMER — A lawsuit filed Thursday in Alaska Superior Court contends that a planned no-cost transfer of state land from the Department of Natural Resources to the state’s economic development agency is unconstitutional.
The suit was filed against DNR and Gov. Mike Dunleavy by Joseph Geldhof, a Juneau-based attorney, on behalf of longtime Juneau resident and former University of Alaska regent Eric Forrer and former state Rep. David Eastman, who lives in Meadow Lakes.
The proposed transfer would give 30 square miles of land abutting Houston, Willow and Meadow Lakes to the state-run Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, or AIDEA, for future projects that could include an industrial park with data centers, according to state documents. Lawmakershave raised questions about whether theproposed transfer is legal…