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Borough hearing approves replat to create two residential lots in Fairbanks Townsite
Summary
On Feb. 19, 2026, a Fairbanks North Star Borough administrative hearing approved RP 1326, a replat by Karen Farrell that consolidates six parcels in the Fairbanks Townsite into two residential lots (about 7,600 sq ft and 9,500 sq ft), subject to six conditions including a required flood-note review prior to final plat.
The Fairbanks North Star Borough hearing officer approved RP 1326 on Feb. 19, 2026, a replat application from Karen Farrell that consolidates six downtown Fairbanks Townsite parcels into two lots intended for one residence apiece, roughly 7,600 square feet and 9,500 square feet. The approval was granted with six conditions, including a requirement that the final plat include a flood-zone note to be reviewed by the borough floodplain administrator.
Planning staff contact George Stephan presented the proposal and told the hearing that the request essentially “cures” prior deed splits and fits the quick-plat criteria because it incorporates remaining parcels back into consolidated lots. Stephan said the parcels are bounded by 5th Avenue, 6th Avenue and Hall Street, have paved street access maintained by the City of Fairbanks, and will be required to connect to existing sewer and water facilities.
Staff noted that the proposed replat traces to the 1922 Fairbanks Townsite plat and that several parent lots had been created by deed split; the replat would result in two residential lots as shown on the preliminary plat graphic. Stephan said agency reviews raised no objection (GCI submitted a comment of no objection and requested a notation about section/township/range in the title block) and that the proposal complies with the borough code citation noted in the staff report (referenced in the record as “17O805OB and c.”).
The hearing officer asked staff to confirm that the remaining lot line between the two new parcels is an existing line dating to the 1922 town site plat; staff confirmed this. The officer also asked about documentation of the City of Fairbanks’ waiver of 20-foot corner-radius requirements; staff said the city had waived the rounding and that the waiver itself was not included in the packet but that the city requested 30 days to review the final plat and comment.
No members of the public signed up to testify. Applicant Karen Farrell said she had no additional testimony. After closing public testimony, the hearing officer described a minor correction to staff findings relating to flood mapping and added Condition 6: a note must be added to the final plat properly describing the flood zone, the flood insurance rate map and the date of adoption, and that note must be reviewed by the borough floodplain administrator prior to final plat.
The officer moved to approve RP 1326 with the six conditions, adopting the staff report and findings of fact as amended (a–d). The hearing officer said a final plat must be prepared by a registered land surveyor and submitted to the community planning department within 24 months. The decision was announced on the record; the officer reminded interested parties that appeals of hearing officer decisions must be filed in writing through the borough clerk’s office within 10 working days.
Next steps: staff will circulate the final plat for the City of Fairbanks’ review (30 days), the applicant must submit a registered-land-surveyor-prepared final plat within 24 months, and the borough floodplain administrator must review the flood-note prior to final plat approval.
