Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wasilla planning commission approves 128,000‑square‑foot expansion for Southcentral Foundation clinic
Summary
The Wasilla Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit on Feb. 25 allowing Southcentral Foundation to add about 128,000 square feet to its primary care facility at 1001 South Knik Goose Bay Road, subject to permitting and a revised condition requiring compliance with applicable federal and state laws and permits.
The Wasilla Planning Commission on Feb. 25 unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing Southcentral Foundation to build an approximately 128,000‑square‑foot, two‑story addition to the existing Bentay Noota Valley Native Primary Care Center at 1001 South Knik Goose Bay Road.
City Planner Cindy Wellman told commissioners the project sits on about 17.15 acres, is zoned commercial and requires a conditional use permit because it exceeds 10,000 square feet. Wellman recommended approval with conditions and proposed an amendment to replace several specific permit conditions with a single requirement that the project “must comply with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations and permit requirements.” The commission voted to adopt that amendment and then approved the permit unanimously.
The amendment removed two specific items staff had initially listed: a condition that a final traffic impact analysis be accepted by the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and a condition requiring a pre‑construction nationwide permit notification to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The commission’s revised language requires the applicant to meet applicable state and federal permitting requirements rather than enumerating those two items in the resolution.
During the public hearing, Wasilla City Council member Stu Graham — speaking as a resident — praised the planning work on Title 16 and asked a technical question about building height after reviewing the project elevations. Tomasz Dayak, the project architect, said the addition is consistent with the city’s land‑use height rules and that the rooftop mechanical penthouse is not included in the building height calculation under Wasilla code.
Planner Wellman read the code definition referenced by staff, saying building height is measured from average finished grade to the highest point of the roof but does not include penthouses constructed primarily for mechanical equipment. Commissioners discussed whether to add an explicit exception for the mechanical penthouse; after the planner’s clarification that the design meets the code definition, the commission did not add a separate height variance.
Dayak told the commission the project is Phase 2 of a master plan; Phase 1 was completed in 2012 and the expansion is expected to come online in 2026. He also said the project team is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after an initial Corps review identified potential wetlands; the applicant said it does not believe wetlands exist on the site and will work with the Corps to resolve the issue and submit any required applications prior to construction.
Commissioner Stafford moved to approve the conditional use permit (CU 25‑01); Commissioner Landgill seconded. After the amendment to the conditions was adopted (motion by Commissioner Stafford, second by Commissioner Brown) the commission voted unanimously to approve the resolution as amended.
Next steps for the project include final permitting, coordination with the Corps of Engineers as needed, acceptance of the final traffic analysis by state transportation officials where required, and routine city plan reviews required by the resolution.
