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Planning board approves Mendon Subdivision second edition; vacates cul‑de‑sac
Summary
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Board on March 19 approved SD003‑25, Mendon Subdivision Second Edition, and vacated a portion of a previously dedicated cul‑de‑sac to allow construction of an IRHA loop road and 19 new lots; approvals include conditions addressing flood‑plain notes, road engineering and signage.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Board on March 19 approved SD003‑25, Mendon Subdivision Second Edition, a request to divide about 30.87 acres into 19 lots and a 9.41‑acre remainder tract, and separately approved VA003‑25, vacating a small portion of a previously dedicated cul‑de‑sac on Pleasure Drive to allow construction of an IRHA loop road.
Staff said the subdivision will create lots ranging from 40,650 to 53,190 square feet and that the loop road will replace the need for the existing cul‑de‑sac. George Stephan, planning officer with the borough’s Department of Community Planning, told the board the site includes frontage along the Chena River and falls mostly in Flood Zone X with areas in Flood Zone AE and the Chena River regulatory floodway; he said base flood elevation requirements in Title 17 apply and must be noted on the plat.
The board conditioned approval on eight staff recommendations, including that the IRHA loop be inspected and approved by the borough engineer, be centered in the right of way, and include road signage that complies with FNSBC 17.60.010.D. Stephan also recommended that the plan show the required benchmark and base flood elevation notes.
Oliver Loftus, the applicant representative, told the board the project follows the subdivision plan previously approved and said the current hearing was necessary only because an extension request deadline was missed: “This is being built and developed in accordance with the way it was approved 2 years ago, and we're following that same plan,” Loftus said. He said the road will be centered in the right of way and built to borough standards when complete.
Eugene Paul, chief executive officer of the Interior Regional Housing Authority (IRHA), described IRHA’s financing and lease programs for the development. “Doyon gives us money for the housing authority and that's how we are able to purchase this place out in Mondeau,” Paul said, and explained IRHA’s 10‑ and 20‑year programs that transition units to residents after the term is met.
Board members asked about river access and road maintenance. Stephan said the river access between Lots 9 and 10 is not being dedicated for public access and that the plat will indicate who benefits from the access; he said the subdivision is not within a road service area and that IRHA had been performing road clearing and maintenance to date.
The board voted 5‑0 to approve VA003‑25, the cul‑de‑sac vacation (motion moved by Ms. Peterson, seconded by Mr. Perkins). The board then approved SD003‑25, the Mendon Subdivision Second Edition, 5‑0 (motion moved by Ms. Peterson, seconded by Mr. Perkins). The planning board’s decisions include a 30‑day assembly veto period for the vacation and a seven‑day appeal period to the Board of Adjustment for the subdivision, as noted in the staff presentation.
The approvals do not transfer responsibility for future maintenance or annexation into any road service area; staff said any long‑term maintenance arrangements would remain subject to IRHA practices or potential future road service area formation.
The planning board record and staff report list additional technical conditions and findings of fact supporting the decisions; appeal and recording instructions were read into the record at the conclusion of the item.
