Platting Board Denies Shawn Street Vacation Amid Gaming Hall Concerns

The Anchorage Platting Board voted Tuesday night to deny a request to vacate Shawn Street right-of-way in Birchwood, following staff recommendations that the undeveloped street may be needed for future access to residential lots to the north.

The board rejected the vacation request from Julie Jorlette and Sean and Lori Barnett, who sought to eliminate the 60-foot right-of-way between their properties on Alluvial Street. The petitioners argued the vacation would protect their residential neighborhood from potential commercial traffic related to the Native Village of Eklutna's gaming hall operations on adjacent parcels.

Planning staff recommended denial after multiple municipal departments objected to the vacation. The Municipality of Anchorage Traffic Engineering Department, Private Development, Right-of-Way Section, and Eagle River Street Maintenance Section all raised concerns that the right-of-way may be needed to provide access to undeveloped Lots 79 and 80 to the north, each 2.5 acres in size.

"This vacation would be detrimental to the future needs of the public in that it would forego right-of-way that may be needed to provide access to the residential zone lots to the north," planning staff wrote. The right-of-way was originally dedicated in the 1980s when the properties were platted.

Jonathan Lang, representing the petitioners, said alternative access exists through 50-foot patent right-of-way reservations along the northern boundaries of the properties. He presented site plans showing the Native Village of Eklutna has paved portions of residential-zoned Lot 67 for use as parking for the Chinnin Gaming Hall.

"We ask the board to consider adopting the following findings based on the information that we have provided," Lang said. "Both legal and buildable access is available to the adjacent properties. Therefore, the Shawn Street right-of-way is in excess of municipal need."

Sean Barnett, who has owned his property for close to 50 years, testified that he and his wife fear the Native Village of Eklutna may use Lots 79 and 80 for commercial purposes. "We do not want the potential for commercial traffic driving down Alluvial Street," Barnett said. "Alluvial Street is a residential area, safe, quiet, peaceful."

Brian Hall, who owns property on Lot 85, warned the board about potential future complications if the gaming hall expands. "If this gaming hall is developed, this is what you are going to see. You are going to see us battling something different as residents," Hall said.

Michael Schechter, an attorney representing the Native Village of Eklutna, countered that the village purchased Lots 79 and 80 on the open market and has not determined future plans for the properties. He said any commercial development would require rezoning through the standard municipal process.