A hearing officer for the Fairbanks North Star Borough approved three quick plats and a vacation of a portion of a public utility easement during an administrative hearing on Jan. 2, 2025, the session record shows. The hearing began at 10:01 a.m. and ended at 10:15 a.m.

The actions modify lot lines and easement locations on three properties and were approved with conditions that require final plats prepared by a registered land surveyor and submission to the community planning department within 24 months. The decisions are appealable to the planning board within 10 working days of the hearing, borough staff said.

Zachariah Lee, community planning staff, presented each item and recommended approval in all three cases, citing the borough code provisions that allow these matters to proceed as quick plats. No members of the public signed up to testify on any of the items; applicants’ representatives answered technical questions from staff and the hearing officer and offered brief comments.

RP0010-25 — Murray Highlands replat: Stutzman Engineering Associates Inc., on behalf of property owners Donald Mulligan and Laura Mulligan, requested to replat Lots 2A and 2B to vacate and relocate an existing access easement within Lot 2A. Lee said the request qualifies as a quick plat under FNSBC 17.16.010(A)(5) because it modifies a private easement created by a prior plat. He noted that the parcel has access via Old Steves Highway and that a previous planning-board variance (shown on the preliminary plat as plat note 8 for plat number 2020270) allowed access that otherwise would conflict with the borough code restriction on direct lot access to a major collector or arterial.

Lee told the hearing that staff originally proposed four conditions but amended those conditions to three after comments from ACS were incorporated into the packet. With three conditions and findings of fact A–C, staff recommended approval. The hearing officer announced approval “with three conditions, adopting the staff report and findings of fact A through C.” Jeremy Stark, representing the applicant, confirmed the parcels are owned by the Mulligans and said, “That’s what title indicates and that’s my understanding of it.” The staff direction requires a final plat prepared by a registered land surveyor and submitted to the community planning department within 24 months.

RP011-25 — Leisure Subdivision easement vacation: Stutzman Engineering Associates Inc., on behalf of the Fairbanks North Star Borough, asked to vacate a portion of a public utility easement within Block 9A of Leisure Subdivision (approximately 5.28 acres). Lee said this qualifies as a quick plat under FNSBC 17.16.010(A)(4) because it modifies or eliminates a public utility easement. The parcel has legal access from Old Richardson Highway, Braddock Street, 30 Second Avenue and Leisure Street; direct access from Old Richardson Highway is restricted by FNSBC 17.56.010(F). Lee reported that all utility providers concurred with the vacation.

Staff recommended approval with three conditions and findings of fact A–C; the hearing officer approved the request using the staff report and findings. The approval includes the same requirement for a final plat by a registered land surveyor to be submitted within 24 months.

SD004-25 — Dixon Subdivision lot-line realignment: 3 Tier Alaska filed on behalf of Ernest Davis and Anne Branville Davis to realign the lot line between TL3341 and TL3320 and thereby create two lots of approximately 3.18 acres and 6.33 acres. Lee said the change qualifies as a quick plat because it moves or eliminates lot lines while resulting in no more than four lots. Lee noted the parcels were legally created previously (by waiver) and that the proposal does not create a new violation of Title 17.

Ryan Hunt, representing the applicant, described the proposal as straightforward: “This is a simple lot line change. We’re just taking the two halves and moving [the] lot line north, per the owner’s request,” and said he was available to answer questions. Staff recommended approval with four conditions and the three findings of fact; the hearing officer approved, adopting the staff report and findings. The final-plat and 24-month submission requirement applies.

Votes at a glance

- RP0010-25 (Murray Highlands replat): Approved by the hearing officer; motion to approve adopted with three conditions and findings of fact A–C. Vote tally not recorded in the transcript. Agenda ID: RP0010-25.

- RP011-25 (Leisure Subdivision easement vacation): Approved by the hearing officer with three conditions and findings of fact A–C. Utility providers concurred; vote tally not recorded. Agenda ID: RP011-25.

- SD004-25 (Dixon Subdivision lot-line realignment): Approved by the hearing officer with four conditions and findings of fact A–C. Vote tally not recorded. Agenda ID: SD004-25.

Appeals and next steps

Each decision is subject to appeal by filing notice and the applicable fee with the borough clerk’s office no later than 10 working days after the hearing. The hearing record and staff contact information are available on the borough’s meetings webpage, fnsb.gov/meetings. The administrative hearing was adjourned at 10:15 a.m.