The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Board on June 18 approved a plat (DE001-25/SD014-25) dedicating public right-of-way for Pete Simpson Memorial Road and Himalaya Road and granted three variances tied to monumentation and constructed-access requirements.

Kellen Spielman, director of community planning, and Kellen Spillman/Spillman references in the record (transcript variations) provided staff analysis showing the two large borough-owned sections will be platted primarily to create a fee-simple right-of-way over an existing firebreak trail cut during the 2011 Hastings fire. Spielman told the board the plat will create three parcels, including a small roughly 3.3-acre tract (Tract C) that already functionally exists due to a state ADL easement.

Daniel Welch, manager of Natural Resource Development for the borough, said the right-of-way dedication is part of a cooperative effort with Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry. “The state is doing the rest to include monumenting the boundary of that right of way,” Welch said, describing state plans to develop a forestry-standard road and to fund related survey and construction work.

The board approved three variances: (1) VR009-25 to waive exterior monumentation of all exterior angle points in the large parcels, (2) VR010-25 to waive the borough standard for constructed access to the subdivision boundary, and (3) VR011-25 to waive constructed-access requirements for Tract C. Staff recommended approval of the variances while attaching a plat note and conditions to clarify the constructed-access limitations and to preserve public health and safety.

Jeremy Stark, who spoke on surveying and monumentation issues, said portions of the federal cadastral survey had section corners set but not all quarter corners, and that reestablishing some corners would be required only if a full survey were needed in the future. Stark described the proposal as a right-of-way dedication with monumentation of the dedicated corridor and of Tract C but not the distant exterior angle points as impractical in this case.

Mr. Perkins moved to adopt the subdivision dedication and the three variances with the staff findings and conditions; Ms. Guthrie seconded. The motion carried 6–1. The decision may be appealed to the Board of Adjustment within seven days.