Planning commission recommends new land use review ordinance requiring review for structures over 480 sq. ft.; staff says 5-day turnaround is feasible

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission on Oct. 20 voted to adopt Resolution 25-20, recommending the assembly repeal the existing mandatory land use permit in MSB 17.02 and replace it with MSB 17.07, a land use review that would require review of proposed structures larger than 480 square feet and provide a five-day turnaround with fee refund if the deadline is missed.

Alex Strachan, planning and land use director, described the ordinance as resembling the borough's original 2007 mandatory land use permit. He said the 2007 rule prompted 300to500 applications per year, but the code was narrowed in 2011 to require permits only within 75 feet of a water body, reducing applications to about half a dozen per year. "This ordinance ... would require any structure over 480 square feet to submit a site plan and allow the borough to review setbacks, flood zones and…