Mat-Su planning board continues Hatcher Creek Estates subdivision after neighbors raise traffic, aquifer and road-maintenance concerns

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board on Aug. 21 continued consideration of Hatcher Creek Estates, a proposed four‑phase subdivision of about 39 acres that would create 36 lots, after residents raised concerns about road access, maintenance and aquifer impacts.

The board voted to continue the item to its Sept. 18 meeting to allow the petitioner and borough staff time to respond to questions raised during public testimony and by predesign staff.

The subdivision site lies east of North Covington Street, south of North Wasilla Fishhook Road and west of North New Hope Farm Road. Planning staff asked for additional design work after new information was received from the Department of Transportation about right‑of‑way widths.

“At this point, there’s no change to what the petitioner is proposing,” Craig Hansen, representing the petitioner, told the board, adding that DOT recently provided information that altered a previously assumed right‑of‑way width “from, I think it was 100 to 200 feet wide,” forcing a redesign and delay in submitting updated drawings. Planning staff said that redesign work is why they requested the continuance.

Neighbors and adjacent developers urged the board to press for changes to the plat’s access and to ensure the borough will maintain nearby roads. Patricia Sykes, who identified herself as one of the developers of New Hope Estates adjacent to the site, told the board New Hope Farm Road “has not even been approved for maintenance by the borough as yet” and that she and others have been maintaining it.

Sykes urged the board to require a second access or a stub connection to Covington, saying the proposal routes all traffic onto New Hope Farm Road and away from Wasilla. “There should be some ingress and egress onto Covington,” she said, and suggested covenant language to restrict detached fourplexes, which she and others said would increase traffic and remove wildlife habitat.

John James, who said he helped develop the existing New Hope Farm Road, expressed similar concerns about traffic and groundwater. “Has anybody done a water study on the aquifer lately? … It was done about 20 years ago. Nothing’s done since,” he told the board, urging the planning staff to consider updated aquifer studies given the proposed density.

Planning officer Fred Wagner told the board he would “chase down this topic a little further” and provide more information at the continued hearing. Board members asked staff to clarify whether the public portion of New Hope Farm Road has been accepted for maintenance and to include answers about who requested the current access configuration.

Action: The board approved a motion to continue Hatcher Creek Estates to the Sept. 18 meeting to allow the petitioner time to revise plans and for staff to report back on the road‑maintenance and access questions. The continuance was approved without recorded objection.

Why it matters: The neighborhood’s road network, acceptance of roads for borough maintenance and groundwater availability are material to whether a subdivision can be safely and legally served. Residents who maintain private portions of roadways told the board they face potential additional maintenance burdens if the subdivision’s access remains as currently proposed.

Next steps: The board set the item for Sept. 18. Staff and the petitioner will provide revised plats and responses addressing DOT right‑of‑way input, the status of New Hope Farm Road maintenance acceptance, revised access layouts (including the possibility of a connection to Covington), and any requested groundwater or aquifer studies.