Juneau Planning Commission approves Chilkat Vistas Phase IV plat with conditions

The Juneau Planning Commission approved the preliminary plat for Phase IV of the Chilkat Vistas Subdivision with conditions Tuesday, clearing the way to subdivide Tract A1 into seven single-family lots and extend Robbie Road. Three of the seven lots may include accessory apartments, according to the Planning Commission agenda.

The same request failed at the commission two months ago. Alaska News previously covered the July 28 meeting, when the Phase IV plat fell one vote short of approval and residents testified about landslides, cracked foundations and uncontrolled runoff. The September meeting packet records that the Assembly liaison reported the Assembly had accepted an appeal of that decision and directed the applicant to resubmit to the commission. Chilkat Vistas has advanced in stages: a 2019 record for Phase I describes a phased major subdivision creating 14 lots and one large tract, and a 2024 notice describes Phase III as 19 single-family lots and two large tracts.

Applicant Michael Heuman proposes extending Robbie Road, which prior settlement and sketch plat materials identify as terminating after the seven lots rather than serving as a public through street. The director's report states that Phase IV meets all development criteria set forth in the Richland Manor Settlement Agreement.

Four conditions attach before the plat can be signed: a drainage plan approved by General Engineering, a full set of construction plans approved by the same office, all improvements completed or bonded, and property taxes paid. The drainage condition is the one neighbors raised in July.

The commission also approved a conditional-use-permit amendment sought by applicant Elizabeth Clayton, allowing a commercial tenant to occupy the second, 1,095-square-foot unit at 3020 Clinton Drive alongside the existing Domino's Pizza use.

Juneau residents have told city bodies for years that buildable ground is scarce. Testifying before the Juneau Assembly on Feb. 7, 2022, resident Wayne Coogan, Auk Bay neighborhood, said the city's apparent land supply is misleading: "If you look at Juneau from Zoom, it looks like we have a lot of land here, but if you drive around, you'll see it's readily obvious that we don't have a lot of buildable land."