Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Addressing Roads topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning board approves variance and renaming for portion of Van Horn Road to East Van Horn Road
Summary
The planning board voted 5‑0 March 19 to grant a variance and to rename the segment of Van Horn Road between South Cushman Street extension and Easy Street to East Van Horn Road, a change emergency operations and the City of Fairbanks fire chief supported to avoid delayed emergency responses.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Board on March 19 approved a variance to allow adding an east directional to a segment of Van Horn Road and voted to formally rename that segment East Van Horn Road so the majority of addresses maintain their current designation.
Staff said 10 of 12 addresses already use the East Van Horn Road designation; FNSB emergency operations recommended the petition requirement be waived in the interest of public safety so the change would formalize existing addressing and reduce the risk of delayed emergency responses. Zach Lee, planning officer, told the board the City of Fairbanks fire chief and borough emergency operations supported the change and that denial would force many property owners to change their addresses back to Van Horn Road.
The variance request sought relief from the addressing chapter (transcript citation: FNSBC 17.36.010.B.1) to permit an added directional even though a directional alone normally would not avoid a duplicate name. Staff summarized mandatory findings and concluded the variance was the most practical solution because changing the majority of business and resident addresses would cause more disruption.
Daniel Weatherly, representing Emergency Operations, said the office found the irregular addressing pattern while reviewing the section of Van Horn Road and that keeping the East designation would cause the least disruption for businesses and residents: “To cause the least disruption, we feel that adding the East designation would be the best course of action at this time,” Weatherly said.
Mr. Brooks moved approval of the variance (motion adopted 5‑0, seconded by Ms. Peterson), and Ms. Peterson moved approval of the public road naming to East Van Horn Road (motion adopted 5‑0, seconded by Mr. Brooks). The planning board record notes the change was also recommended by the borough emergency operations director and supported by city fire and engineering staff.
The board’s decision may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment by filing a written notice of appeal with the clerk’s office within seven days of the decision, staff said.
