Planning commission approves cleanup to Denali State Park zoning language

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission approved Resolution 25-16 on Oct. 6, 2025, recommending that the borough assembly remove a provision that would have allowed a change to the Denali State Park boundary to automatically change the borough's Denali State Park special land use district.

Alex Strahan, planning and land use director for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, described the ordinance as a “cleanup” and said the provision could have allowed the state to alter the borough zoning boundary without borough review. "The only body that has the authority to amend our boundaries is the borough assembly, not the state," Strahan said. He also cited a court decision he referred to as "Homer versus Griswold" that reinforces the need for the planning commission to review zoning changes.

The change would remove language that automatically ties the borough's special use district boundary to changes in the state park boundary. Strahan told commissioners that the state currently and historically does not effect borough zoning and that the borough's code should reflect that the assembly, not the state, controls borough zoning boundaries. He said private inholdings within the park remain subject to the borough special use district as currently written.

There were no public speakers during the hearing, and Commissioner McCabe moved approval of Resolution 25-16. Commissioner Glenn seconded the motion. With no objections raised, the commission approved the resolution.

The commission set a public hearing date of Oct. 20, 2025, for the related ordinance before the assembly process continues.