Planning commission hears survey results and roadshow feedback as borough updates 2005 comprehensive plan

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission received a progress update March 11, 2025 on the borough's update of its 2005 Regional Comprehensive Plan, including the results of a recently closed public survey and a series of community roadshows.

Planning staff told commissioners the community-values survey closed March 3 and that outreach included an online form, mailed paper surveys and seven roadshow events across the borough. Planning staff reported the survey drew "a little more than 1,500 responses," and staff said responses covered a broad cross-section of the borough's neighborhoods but skewed toward older residents in the over-65 age group.

The survey asked respondents to rate borough performance on 14 livability characteristics and to pick their top three priorities. Staff summarized early findings: average overall quality-of-life scores were just under 7 out of 10; the natural environment, parks and recreation and sense of safety rated relatively high for performance; housing quality and affordability and childcare rated low (housing averaged under 4 out of 10 and childcare about 4 out of 10). Education was the most frequently selected priority, included in roughly 60 percent of respondents' top-three lists.

Staff also reported seven planning roadshows and one virtual event held around the borough, with a combined in-person attendance of about 108 people at the roadshows. Presentations, poster boards and open-house exercises informed the survey and generated localized input on what residents value and what they would change.

Planning staff said the department will analyze the survey in greater depth by demographic groups and subareas, and that a full report and a needs assessment from the contractor will be delivered to the commission next month. Staff described the March 11 session as an early, informal work session and requested additional feedback from commissioners before the draft plan language is prepared for broader review.

Commissioners discussed representativeness of the responses and noted gaps in outreach to military families at Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base. Several commissioners urged staff to disaggregate the survey results by age, neighborhood and other demographic groups so the update can show where priorities diverge across the borough.

Planning staff said the update process will include additional advisory-committee meetings and follow-up analysis; commissioners were invited to send written comments to staff prior to the next report.

The planning commission adjourned the March 11 work session at 11:00 p.m.