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Matanuska-Susitna Planning Commission backs repeal of outdated septic-code sections
Summary
The Planning Commission on April 6 recommended repealing MSB 8.25 and MSB 17.55.020E, provisions dating to 1973 that staff said the borough has not enforced; state regulation of septic systems would remain in place, staff told commissioners.
On April 6, 2026 the Matanuska-Susitna Borough Planning Commission adopted Resolution 26-02 by unanimous consent, recommending repeal of MSB 8.25 (water pollution control) and MSB 17.55.020E.
Planning and Land Use Director Alex Strand told the commission the provisions date from 1973 and have not been administered by borough staff. "When I came to work in the planning department nearly 20 years ago, I was told that we can sort of ignore this section of code because the state of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has primacy over the regulation of septic tanks," Strand said at the hearing. He said the code is redundant with state regulation and is inconsistent with more recent state allowances for onsite treatment systems.
Commissioner Allen asked whether repeal would reduce environmental protections for valley residents. Strand replied that the state would continue to require standards for leach fields and septic tanks and that repeal would not remove those state requirements.
The motion to adopt Resolution 26-02 was moved by Commissioner McCabe and seconded by Commissioner Carpenter. After brief discussion characterizing the change as a routine cleanup of an unused code section, the chair called for objections; with none raised the commission adopted the resolution by unanimous consent.
The resolution recommends that the borough Assembly consider an ordinance to repeal the named code sections. No public commenters addressed the item at the hearing.
