[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6681405,"mediaKeyId","2245633-fa8bf249f0d72b6685a6142638a096e3","parentId",2245633,"title","Planning board elects Amanda Salmon as vice chair and requests parliamentary training","audioSeconds",62,"startMs",521000,"endMs",583000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245633-fa8bf249f0d72b6685a6142638a096e3&start=521&end=583","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245633-fa8bf249f0d72b6685a6142638a096e3/thumbnail_521000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6681405/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Planning-board-elects-Amanda-Salmon-as-vice-chair-and-requests-parliamentary-training","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681405-433824b41761936eb7a84a933a60f8e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775365361&Signature=PmveTwqMgnWJOZUQl~pvjAIyMthqw10yXgpyzBPN1BXUHGR1E2krYJ9ZCmBecyC2apk5IT3J-oLqeh2ki3iRAdwGOPrdjXLFb5veONf3PqpNHjcDJ3Ygxn39dQTaS~aL9qw3bY9bUvlJgwJS~6~mVK61n-cbTHYhB~1ytu0CSZrn4Ws7iiDxL82Jq6-oGvovdRMku2hY-g-gcw7om~T31Q0JGPY5EwSwdiuD6uhJn0pv4IlMNsM5LT9Ft1TcjCMtHa-ceH8S1Jzq~Kq-8PlV9EnrnQxH-K6KznFoX9nE-2VjWMmCaCP7QK8lfnu2~Xp4HauEiV0wuaGOEcACaCPOww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Matanuska-Susitna Borough","date","2025-02-06T23:04:37.17Z","article","During the meeting, newly seated members of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board introduced themselves and said whether they were interested in serving as vice chair. After the introductions, the board nominated Amanda Salmon to serve as vice chair; the nomination was seconded and approved with no objection.

Several members described their backgrounds. Mike Lebing said he is a lifelong Palmer resident and recently retired after a 37-year career with Otis Elevator Company in Anchorage. Carla McBride said she has lived in the area 51 years and has worked as a teacher and, since 2007, as a realtor. Eric Cohn, who said he served as vice chair last year, noted turnover in recent board leadership: “we actually have 4 chairmen in 4 years. So that's hard to get a consistency going.” Chris Chavetta said he is a police officer with the University of Alaska and would serve as vice chair if needed. Amanda Salmon described her prior service on the planning board and said she was interested in the vice chair position.

The chair formally nominated Amanda Salmon; Eric Cohn seconded. The chair asked for objections, heard none, and announced Salmon as vice chair. Salmon thanked the board and said she was excited to serve.

The board also moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting; Sandra Krieger moved approval and Eric Cohn seconded. The chair announced there were no objections and that the minutes were approved.

Planning director Alex Straub, sitting in for the planning officer, told the board staff would arrange parliamentary-procedure training for newer members and asked board members to send specific training topics or legal questions to the clerk (Kayla) so staff could prepare. Board members also discussed increasing outreach to community councils and clarifying standards when the board considers variances, and requested staff assistance to ensure consistent application of code and procedures.

The board adjourned and noted there will be no meeting Feb. 20; the next regular meeting is scheduled for March 6 with two cases on the docket.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","platting Board Meeting - Feb. 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Newly seated Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board members introduced themselves; Amanda Salmon was nominated and approved as vice chair by voice vote, the board approved minutes, and planning staff agreed to arrange parliamentary procedure training for newer members.","taxTitle","Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska","taxId",14460,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6681409,"Planning board approves vacation of West Independence Drive, consolidates lots into 'Sam and Pam's Homestead'",690,594000,1284000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245633-fa8bf249f0d72b6685a6142638a096e3&start=594&end=1284","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245633-fa8bf249f0d72b6685a6142638a096e3/thumbnail_594000.jpg","/articles/6681409/Matanuska-Susitna-Borough/Alaska/Planning-board-approves-vacation-of-West-Independence-Drive-consolidates-lots-into-Sam-and-Pams-Homestead","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6681409-0c2d106c800a9543126d8187a21ed865/orig.mp4?Expires=1775365361&Signature=IzaR7dR8ZEDgHd8mdscgYVQpvtrOSAQulVY8T5tkd5~WUeNKbI~A2VoJSbMp3ot5xwrUre0tLXu96HFR8TpFyKxxZwY9dJWeXW4oQg397cVFSQOs2amULbtblr4gaiId40ZVnBkgGX6XiZlViJzb4Z1x0Y30PufaFViqkSEApGnA1SBG88YdFvOv8NrA1UwG52NILJ6NrQOMuoEyWeWjBumZqfNINqXIpxkopxqXGJ64icjbjtOseB9jWACUTbNagO19XwRhf79Mn8QYFvCjkwWUBKORkHeydKOYrSKWY3UtTJLQTkjDvq9NsWJh5HxnNjP6Db6gUIVaufaQLcN7XA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board approved a request to vacate a portion of West Independence Drive and consolidate multiple lots into a single parcel to be called Sam and Pam's Homestead.

The action, presented during a public hearing, would eliminate common lot lines among Lots 1–6, Block 1; Lots 1–5, Block 4; and Tract 1 of Lucky Shot Acres (plat number 60-18), and vacate the unimproved portion of West Independence Drive lying between North Deception Drive and North Craigie Court. In a motion read into the record, the board described the resulting parcel as containing 7.09 acres, more or less.

Planning staff, represented by Matthew Goddard, the planning technician for the case, told the board the consolidation reduces lot density in the existing Lucky Shot Acres subdivision, and therefore a geotechnical report was not required. Staff reported that 32 public notices were mailed on Jan. 14, 2025, and that three public comments were received after the staff report: two non-objections and one objection expressing concern about impacts to property values. State and borough reviewers provided no objections; the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities asked that a plat note be added stating that no direct access will be granted to Willow Fish Hook Road.

Owen Dix, a surveyor with Resolute Land Surveying representing the applicants, said the applicants had acquired the separate parcels over time and planned to use the consolidated parcel for recreational purposes. Dix addressed the lone objection by saying, based on his site survey, he did not observe debris or tires alleged by the commenter.

Staff recommended approval with eight findings of fact and eight recommended conditions of approval. After closing public comment, board member Sandra Krieger moved to approve the vacation and the subdivision consolidation and to adopt the staff findings and conditions; Chris Chavetta seconded. The chair called for objections and, upon hearing none, declared the motion approved. The transcript records approval by voice/no objection; no roll-call vote was read into the record.

As noted in the staff report, if the planning board approves the vacation, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly must also approve the right-of-way vacation within 30 days for the vacation to take effect.

The board also received a brief reminder from planning staff that full legal and physical access exist to the proposed parcel and that the vacation petition included a posting affidavit showing notice posted at the site for at least 30 days prior to the hearing. The file includes DOT comments, borough department comments, and correspondence from the Willow Community Council and other stakeholders in the application record.","The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board approved vacating a portion of West Independence Drive and consolidating multiple lots into a single parcel called Sam and Pam's Homestead; staff found the proposal consistent with borough code and recommended conditions, and the assembly must act on the vacation within 30 days.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning board elects Amanda Salmon as vice chair and requests parliamentary training

Planning board approves vacation of West Independence Drive, consolidates lots into 'Sam and Pam's Homestead'