Vanda Valley Subdivision Continued to Jan. 15 After ADOT Reverses Access Approval

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board on Dec. 18 continued consideration of the Vanda Valley subdivision to Jan. 15, 2026, after staff and the planning officer said the Alaska Department of Transportation reversed an earlier decision about driveway/access that was part of the petitioner’s original design.

The item seeks to divide Parcel C6 into what staff described in the record as 43 lots across about 49.29 acres in the North Lakes Community Council area. Planning staff reported that 91 public notices were mailed on Oct. 14, 2025, and that the petitioner requested a continuance to address MSB predesign and engineering concerns.

Planning officer Fred Wagner told the board that at the pre-application stage ADOT had been amenable to an access to Wasilla Fishhook Road, but after the formal submittal ADOT declined to allow that access. Wagner said that change “made a drastic change to the effect of traffic everywhere,” forcing the applicant to return to the drawing board. Wagner also noted the project’s proximity to a school and said the plat may require dedicated pathways under Title 43.

Board member (Speaker 3) asked whether traffic concerns raised by the community council would be included in the redesign; staff said those issues are being addressed and that community council comments had been provided to the council member that day. With no petitioner present, the board member moved to continue the case to Jan. 15, 2026; the motion was seconded by Fred Wagner and passed with no objections recorded.

The continuance is intended to allow the petitioner to revise the access design to address ADOT’s change of position, address county predesign/engineering comments, and incorporate traffic-related requirements such as pedestrian pathways where required.