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Assembly adopts remote-recreation zoning for borough land near West Chatanika River, 8-1
Summary
The Assembly approved rezoning approximately 459 acres southwest of the Elliott Highway from general use to a remote recreation-site designation, a new zoning type intended to allow low-density recreational home sites and protect surrounding land use.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly on March 27 adopted an ordinance rezoning roughly 459 acres near the West Chatanika River from general-use (GU1) to a remote-recreation-site (RRS) designation, citing planning-commission support and an interest in preserving low-density recreational home sites.
The assembly vote to adopt Ordinance 2022-445 passed 8-1 after staff and planning-commission testimony. Borough planning staff described the parcel as borough-owned, located southwest of the Elliott Highway with access near mile post 15 down Himalaya Road and via the Pete Simpson Memorial trail. The remote-recreation-site zone is intended for low-density personal-use recreational development with access primarily by trail, air, water or rail rather than typical road infrastructure.
Planning staff said the rezone conforms to the regional comprehensive plan and does not create a spot zone, and noted the planning commission unanimously recommended approval. "The vision is to provide opportunity to people that want a little slice of Alaska, to have a remote cabin out in the wilderness," Planning Commission Chair Kevin McKinley told the Assembly, adding the commission voted 10-0 in favor.
Applicant representatives explained the borough intends to subdivide the property into remote recreational lots and design rights-of-way as trails rather than full roads. An applicant representative told the Assembly the project is intended to preserve the recreational nature of the land while giving future buyers clear legal access and recorded right-of-way lines so future conflicts over informal roads can be avoided.
Assembly members debated whether the zoning would allow nonroad trail access and probed safety and maintenance questions. Several members emphasized the value of pre-surveyed rights-of-way to prevent the kind of conflicts that have occurred in older remote plats where informal roads were built without recorded easements.
Motion and vote: Assembly Member Kras moved to adopt the ordinance; Assembly Member Kelly seconded. Roll-call: Haney yes; Rotterman yes; Reeves Ramos yes; Kelly yes; Wilson no; Leginas yes; Guttenberg yes; Kress yes; O'Neil yes. The tally was 8-1 in favor. An immediate-reconsideration motion failed on a subsequent 0-9 vote.
Why it matters: The new RRS designation is a policy tool to allow recreational, low-density home sites while limiting commercial or higher-intensity uses that general-use zoning might permit. Supporters said it protects property buyers and preserves remote character; opponents and some residents raised questions about road standards and emergency access.
Ending: The Assembly passed the rezoning and will consider subdivision plats and title-17 (subdivision) matters later in the process; that work will determine final lot layouts, rights-of-way and whether trail access will be permitted in lieu of fully built roads.
