Planning commission finds Chino Lakes access project consistent with comprehensive plan, forwards to Assembly

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Planning Commission voted unanimously on Oct. 14 to find HP 2026‑001 — the Chino Lakes Recreation Area Bicycle and Pedestrian Access project — consistent with the borough’s comprehensive plan and forward the application to the Borough Assembly for its consideration.

The project, presented by Alaska Department of Transportation design project manager John Netardus and consultant Sarah Schacher of Michael Baker International, would pave and widen Plaque Road with two 10‑foot travel lanes and 4‑foot paved shoulders, construct a 30‑space looped parking plaza with a snow‑machine launch, and build about 4,000 linear feet of a 10‑foot‑wide paved, ADA‑accessible bicycle and pedestrian path to the swim beach. The DOT’s staff contact for the case was Don Galligan of Community Planning.

"I'm really excited about this project," John Netardus told the commission, saying the design formalizes longstanding informal parking and guides users into a consolidated facility rather than into private yards. Don Galligan said the project implements recommendations of the Salcha‑Badger Road area plan and advances multiple transportation goals in the regional comprehensive plan.

Commissioners and staff emphasized design choices shaped by community input. Sarah Schacher recounted extensive earlier outreach after a 2023 Assembly action, saying neighbors shaped the design to preserve a "neighborhood" feel and that the plan estimates roughly 335 vehicle trips per day on the Plaque Road segment affected by the new access. Tricia Lavoisier of Parks & Recreation said the trail alignment is included in the borough's adopted recreational trails plan.

Design and mitigation details flagged during questions and staff responses include:

- A 25 mph speed limit will be posted on Plaque Road (the borough's default for local rural roads). - The path typical section is a 10‑ft paved surface with separated 5‑ft travel lanes and shoulders intended to meet ADA access goals. - Bollards were discussed for the trail entrance; staff said landscape boulders are planned to prevent vehicle access from the parking area. - A gated park entrance will close to vehicles approximately 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. - About 1,100 feet of fencing along an existing dike will be installed to prevent after‑hours parking near the gate, and park ranger/Army Corps monitoring will help limit unauthorized motorized use in summer (winter snowmachine use remains allowed in the rec area). - The applicant said restroom facilities are funded and planned as a double‑vaulted ADA restroom open year round. - No right‑of‑way acquisition is required for the current design, and the project team estimated design is roughly 90% complete.

Neighbor Robert Kolodzie, who lives at the project terminus, praised the outreach and urged commissioners not to "de‑scope" elements that were promised after public engagement: "That is what good governance looks like," he said.

Commissioner Collier moved to approve HP 2026‑001 "as being consistent with the comprehensive plan, adopting the staff report and six findings of fact," and Commissioner Fisher seconded. The clerk called the roll; all commissioners present voted yes. The commission’s action is a consistency finding and the application will be scheduled for formal consideration at a Borough Assembly meeting; members were given the Clerk's office contact for Assembly scheduling questions.

The commission’s action does not itself authorize construction; Assembly approval and any required permits are still needed before work proceeds.