Fairbanks borough staff recommend dropping GVEA easements from Salcha lot merger

Fairbanks North Star Borough planning staff recommend that Administrative Hearing Officer Kellen Spillman drop two conditions he placed on a Salcha lot merger: four standard utility notes and two 30-foot public utility easements requested by Golden Valley Electric Association. Spillman takes up the reconsideration at a hearing Thursday, Nov. 19, at 10 am.

The borough scheduled the reconsideration earlier this month. Spillman gave preliminary approval Oct. 22 to the Keyhole Subdivision, which merges 17 lots into one 37.98-acre parcel owned by Terry Wayne Harriman at Mile 319 of the Richardson Highway.

GVEA asked for the easements along the parcel's northern and southern boundaries. Its standard utility notes would set aside space around each power pole and give the utility the right to remove dangerous trees near its easements. Platting Officer Zakariah Lee's October staff report recommended both conditions.

In a memo in the hearing packet, Lee now recommends removing them. He cites a borough code provision that exempts the merger from the borough's design and public improvement rules, including the reservation of public utility easements. The exemption applies to replats of legally created lots that do not add lots, create new violations or make any lot less conforming.

Under the remaining conditions, GVEA would still have 30 days to review the final plat, which is due within 24 months and must show all recorded easements.

The land is vacant. "Our understanding is this area is to be developed into some sort of resort, which would result in significant trip generation for the area," borough Transportation Planner D. Galligan wrote in October. Galligan said the project may need a traffic study and state permits for highway access.

The hearing takes public testimony.