Palmer subdivision easement vacation draws access concerns

The state of Alaska has agreed to give up a piece of public access on the edge of Palmer, over the objection of two neighbors.

The Department of Natural Resources approved a request Friday to vacate two 33-foot section line easements along the boundary of the Enchanted Forest Subdivision, on a lot owned by petitioner Victoria Braun. Section line easements are a long-standing Alaska feature: 33-foot strips reserved on each side of a surveyed section line, creating 66-foot public corridors used historically for travel and trail access. Vacating them ends the public's right to physically cross that ground.

That distinction was the heart of the dispute.

As Julie Matthew put it at a public meeting on the petition, "legal access is not being affected by this, it's just physical access." DNR found that the lot is still reachable via W. King Arthur Drive, the subdivision road — which in the state's view made the easement redundant. Two residents disagreed during the 32-day public comment period, citing loss of physical trail access.

The Mat-Su Borough and the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities both signed off. The approval is contingent on Braun submitting a final plat within two years.

Anyone who commented on the preliminary decision can still appeal.