Anchorage planning board approves preliminary plat for Girdwood Industrial Park subdivision

The Anchorage Municipality Planning Board on Jan. 7 approved a preliminary plat to subdivide roughly 156 acres in the Girdwood Industrial Park into six tracts, allowing five smaller industrial parcels and a 137‑acre remainder. The motion, made by Kevin Cross and seconded by Brenda Mills, passed unanimously, 7–0.

Planning Department staff told the board the plat aligns tract boundaries with zoning to avoid split‑zone lots, meets minimum lot sizes and widths, and requires a 10‑foot pedestrian access easement connecting Bedrock Circle to the Girdwood Open Space tract to ensure trail connectivity under Anchorage Municipal Code Title 21 standards. Staff recommended approval subject to the conditions listed in the staff report.

Ryan Yell of the Heritage Land Bank, the petitioner, said subdividing the park will correct split zoning, improve land management and create a standalone tract to serve the Gerber Valley service area with independent utilities and a dedicated training area for the Girdwood Fire Department. "This is not only an opportunity to create some light industrial land for use in Girdwood, but also is cleaning up some split zoning issues," Cross said when moving approval, citing the lack of objections from reviewing agencies.

Board member Brenda Mills said the preliminary plat meets Title 21 requirements and agency comments, and supported approval so long as the applicant satisfies stated conditions including recording required easements and easement notes. No public testimony was offered on the item.

The board’s approval authorizes the preliminary plat for 24 months; final subdivision, utility extensions and any required construction will be subject to subsequent municipal review and conditions listed in the staff packet.

The board moved next to a separate preliminary plat across the street from this site.