Anchorage Platting Board approves Port of Alaska road shift for new substation

A $48.89 million electrical substation at the Don Young Port of Alaska cleared a land-use step Wednesday. The Anchorage Platting Board split a port tract in two and realigned part of the Terminal Road right-of-way westward to make room for a new electrical substation.

The board vacated part of the existing 80-foot right-of-way. In exchange, the port must dedicate an equal 80-foot alignment just to the west. Utilities may request easements at final review, and any future road work will need a municipal right-of-way permit. The 24-month plat covers 1612 Anchorage Port Road, zoned marine industrial, west of Terminal Road.

The not-to-exceed contract runs about $48.89 million. That figure includes roughly $11.3 million tied to relocating the facility to the North Extension. Chugach Electric Association will build the substation.

"Realigning this thing takes it out of a lot of the topography, which makes it much more buildable," said Dave Hale, representing the Port of Anchorage.

Board member Brenda Mills pressed for a single acreage figure. Staff had cited 603.2 acres, while Hale said the preliminary plat's correct figure was 606.95. The agenda lists a third, 609.6 acres.

Supporting both motions, Mills said, "Existing row is surplus only because equivalent replacement row is being dedicated. Replacement alignment is more suitable for future construction."

The site sits in seismic zones 4 and 5, mapped for high or very high risk of seismically induced ground failure. No soils report was filed for this review, with staff citing archived port data instead. Site-specific utility, Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility, and geotechnical review will follow. No independent seismic-safety or community voices testified at Wednesday's meeting.

Hale said the substation project is separate from the T1 and T2 construction work, though it falls under the Port of Alaska Modernization Program. Of 314 mailed notices, none drew public comment, and the Government Hill Community Council did not weigh in. Anyone wanting to appeal must file a written notice of intent with the planning director within seven days; the appeal follows within 20 days of the written findings being approved, with a fee and deposit.