Planning board approves Mountain Top Acres Addition 1 with drainage and road conditions

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Board on May 7 approved the preliminary plat for Mountain Top Acres Addition 1, a 39.9-acre subdivision that will create 35 lots and remove an existing utility easement and a common access easement, contingent on staff recommendations and conditions.

Planning staff presented a revised design that shifts the proposed stub-road connection west and replaces existing utility easements along new internal roads, recommending approval with seven findings and seven conditions. Staff said a soils report submitted under borough code 432281(a) shows all lots meet the required 10,000 square feet of contiguous usable septic area and an additional 10,000 square feet of usable building area. Staff also cited an average daily traffic (ADT) calculation that will require upgrading East Hatcher's Landing Avenue to residential sub-collector standards and said drainage must be resolved with the borough predesign and engineering division before a notice to proceed for road construction is issued.

"If approved, the existing utility easements would be replaced by new easements following the internal road configuration," planning staff member Matthew said during the presentation, noting letters of non-objection from four utility companies and that the design is consistent with state statutes and borough code.

Board members pressed staff and Public Works on drainage. Jamie Taylor of Public Works said the department had not seen a new drainage plan since prior comments and reiterated outstanding concerns. "I still have concerns that I had voiced," Taylor said, and noted that if significant realignment is required the subdivision would need to return to the planning board.

Tim Carmen, petitioner representative with Bull Moose Surveying, told the board the project's engineer is confident the proposed drainage ditches will handle runoff and that drainage basins could be installed as a contingency. "We don't have any issues with any of the conditions of approval," Carmen said.

An adjacent landowner, Isaac Roland (owner of Tract A Basecamp), testified in support of the revised connection point but also said a drainage basin will likely be needed because "there's a lot of water that comes through that pipe." Roland described soils on his property as sand and large cobbles and said most neighbors he spoke with approve the adjustment.

A board member moved to approve the preliminary plat contingent on staff recommendations 1–7; a board member seconded and the motion passed on a voice vote with no objections. The board’s approval includes conditions requiring final drainage approval by borough engineering and upgrades to East Hatcher's Landing Avenue to residential sub-collector standards prior to construction.