Planning board approves vacation of West Independence Drive, consolidates lots into 'Sam and Pam's Homestead'

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board approved a request to vacate a portion of West Independence Drive and consolidate multiple lots into a single parcel to be called Sam and Pam's Homestead.

The action, presented during a public hearing, would eliminate common lot lines among Lots 1–6, Block 1; Lots 1–5, Block 4; and Tract 1 of Lucky Shot Acres (plat number 60-18), and vacate the unimproved portion of West Independence Drive lying between North Deception Drive and North Craigie Court. In a motion read into the record, the board described the resulting parcel as containing 7.09 acres, more or less.

Planning staff, represented by Matthew Goddard, the planning technician for the case, told the board the consolidation reduces lot density in the existing Lucky Shot Acres subdivision, and therefore a geotechnical report was not required. Staff reported that 32 public notices were mailed on Jan. 14, 2025, and that three public comments were received after the staff report: two non-objections and one objection expressing concern about impacts to property values. State and borough reviewers provided no objections; the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities asked that a plat note be added stating that no direct access will be granted to Willow Fish Hook Road.

Owen Dix, a surveyor with Resolute Land Surveying representing the applicants, said the applicants had acquired the separate parcels over time and planned to use the consolidated parcel for recreational purposes. Dix addressed the lone objection by saying, based on his site survey, he did not observe debris or tires alleged by the commenter.

Staff recommended approval with eight findings of fact and eight recommended conditions of approval. After closing public comment, board member Sandra Krieger moved to approve the vacation and the subdivision consolidation and to adopt the staff findings and conditions; Chris Chavetta seconded. The chair called for objections and, upon hearing none, declared the motion approved. The transcript records approval by voice/no objection; no roll-call vote was read into the record.

As noted in the staff report, if the planning board approves the vacation, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly must also approve the right-of-way vacation within 30 days for the vacation to take effect.

The board also received a brief reminder from planning staff that full legal and physical access exist to the proposed parcel and that the vacation petition included a posting affidavit showing notice posted at the site for at least 30 days prior to the hearing. The file includes DOT comments, borough department comments, and correspondence from the Willow Community Council and other stakeholders in the application record.