Kenai Peninsula Borough plat committee grants preliminary approval for Markon Estates, allows exceptions and flags pipeline easement

The Kenai Peninsula Borough Plat Committee on Sept. 8 granted preliminary approval for a proposed subdivision (KPB file 2025-117) that would divide a 79.696-acre tract into two lots and approved two requested exceptions to borough plat standards.

The committee’s action also directed the surveyor and applicant to confirm the width of a pipeline easement with Enstar before the plat can be finalized; Enstar submitted a late comment asking for a 50-foot easement while staff cited patent documents that refer to a 25-foot easement.

Staff told the committee the proposed plat would split a 79.696-acre parcel into a 14-acre lot and a 60.892-acre lot and that the proposal does not meet the borough’s block-length requirement and includes a cul-de-sac that does not meet the borough turnaround standard. The staff report said the applicant requested exceptions to KPB 20.30.033 (proposed street layout), KPB 20.30.017 (block length) and KPB 20.30.100 (cul-de-sacs). Staff recommended granting the exceptions and recommended preliminary approval “subject to exceptions granted, staff recommendations and compliance with KPB code.”

Veronica Boyko, an Edge Survey and Design representative standing in for surveyor Jason Young, spoke for the applicant. "I'm here just to answer any questions that anyone may have," she said.

One nearby property owner, Ginger Kona of 381 Senior Court, Unit 113, testified during public comment that Frontier Avenue, the likely access road, is already busy and includes a blind hill. "My concern is if the egress and ingress is onto Frontier Avenue, I don't think it can support that kind of traffic at all," Kona said, describing vehicles losing traction on the hill and occasionally entering her yard.

Commissioner Venuti acknowledged the concern and Commissioner Venuti and other committee members said road upgrades and maintenance are outside the committee’s authority. "We're inclined to vote to approve this plat the way it is, but we can't control road upgrades," a committee member said, adding that a road built to borough standards would be required for borough maintenance.

Committee members separately moved and voted to grant the two exceptions requested by the applicant. For the street-layout and block-length exception the committee cited findings in the staff report in support of the borough standards, and the motion passed unanimously. The committee then voted unanimously to grant the cul-de-sac exception, which addressed maximum cul-de-sac length, the minimum 50-foot turnaround radius to the property line and a turnaround grade maximum of 4 percent as described in borough code.

During final discussion before the main motion, staff and committee members noted that Enstar had filed a late comment requesting the pipeline easement be updated to 50 feet per a BLM serial A051647 reference. Staff said the patent documents the committee relies on reference a 25-foot easement (patent references cited as patent 997, Book 57, page 300, and patent 995, Book 57, page 302). Committee members directed the surveyor to obtain documentation from Enstar and the owner showing the correct easement width; staff said that documentation will be required for final plat approval.

After the exceptions and the directions to the surveyor, the committee voted to grant preliminary approval of the plat, adopting and incorporating the staff report and recommendations. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance: The committee unanimously approved the consent agenda (minutes for Aug. 25, 2025, and grouped plats listed as Lake Veil Subdivision, Christianson Addition and Big Bear Lookout Subdivision). The committee unanimously granted two exception requests (street layout/block length and cul-de-sac standards) and then unanimously granted preliminary approval to KPB file 2025-117 (Markon Estates), subject to the exceptions and the requirement that the applicant provide documentation resolving the pipeline easement width with Enstar.

The committee closed public comment with no additional speakers and adjourned the meeting.