State proposes giving 220 acres near Ester to AHFC for housing, drawing trail concerns

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is proposing to convey about 220 acres of state land seven miles southwest of Ester to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation for lower and moderate income housing. The land is used mainly for public recreation, hunting, trapping and access to Rosie Creek and nearby trails.

DNR approved the preliminary decision July 29. AHFC would pay only survey and administrative costs. DNR found the no-cost conveyance serves a public purpose and the state's best interest because free land with road access near Fairbanks speeds housing. AHFC expects one housing unit for every 0.75 buildable acres, mostly beside Rosie Creek Trail.

DNR leaves later land use decisions to the Fairbanks North Star Borough, which zones one tract as open space buffer and the other as general use. AHFC says a transfer "does not automatically mean housing will be built on every parcel."

The state Department of Fish and Game warned last spring that "restrictions to access Rosie Creek Trail system could result in significant impacts." Eric Troyer of Interior Alaska Trails wrote in September that "several well-used trails cross the proposed land sale area."

The parcels have no public access easements now. Along Rosie Creek, DNR would reserve a 50-foot public access easement and building setback and a 100-foot riparian buffer.

The surrounding unit's plan says further disposals "are not appropriate." DNR proposes amending the Eastern Tanana Area Plan to place the 220 acres in a new subunit.

At a Senate Resources hearing Thursday, Chair Cathy Giessel said AHFC did not attend, DNR had not answered a committee records request and "folks that live around that area have contacted me and said this is inappropriate land for housing." The committee will revisit the conveyances Oct. 14.

The public comment period closed Sept. 21 after an extension.