Fairbanks North Star hearing approves Detwiler Subdivision quick-plat to merge three lots
March 05, 2026 | Fairbanks North Star (Borough), Alaska
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Kellen Spillman, director of community planning for the Fairbanks North Star (Borough), approved a request on March 5 to replat three lots in the Detwiler Subdivision into one lot of approximately 44,110 square feet and to vacate two public utility easements and a private driveway access easement.
Staff planner Zach Lee presented the item and recommended approval. Lee told the hearing that the proposal qualifies as a quick plat under Title 17 because it moves or eliminates lot lines without increasing the number of lots and that the lots were legally created by plat number 2005-38. He said the proposal is exempt from Title 17 design and public improvement requirements, noted four staff conditions and three findings of fact, and concluded his report by recommending approval.
The applicant, Karen Fitzgerald Tilton, said the request was a straightforward plan to combine the lots and build a single home on the larger parcel. She confirmed she had spoken with rural services because the driveway easement proposed for vacation is not where she intends to place a driveway; she said rural services indicated moving the driveway to the west would be acceptable and that she will obtain a driveway permit before construction.
Spillman said staff’s recommended conditions were acceptable and announced he would add a fifth condition to reflect rural services' comments: that note number 5 on the final plat be amended to require a driveway permit. "I would like to approve this request with 5 conditions and [adopt] the staff report and findings of fact A through C," Spillman said. He approved the replat with those five conditions; no vote tally was recorded in the hearing record.
Spillman also stated that a final plat must be prepared by a registered land surveyor and submitted to the community planning department within 24 months or preliminary approval will become void. He advised that appeals to the hearing officer’s decision must be filed in writing with the borough clerk’s office within 10 working days and that appeal forms are available from the clerk.
The hearing concluded with no public testimony on the item and Spillman adjourning the administrative hearing at 10:08 a.m.
Staff planner Zach Lee presented the item and recommended approval. Lee told the hearing that the proposal qualifies as a quick plat under Title 17 because it moves or eliminates lot lines without increasing the number of lots and that the lots were legally created by plat number 2005-38. He said the proposal is exempt from Title 17 design and public improvement requirements, noted four staff conditions and three findings of fact, and concluded his report by recommending approval.
The applicant, Karen Fitzgerald Tilton, said the request was a straightforward plan to combine the lots and build a single home on the larger parcel. She confirmed she had spoken with rural services because the driveway easement proposed for vacation is not where she intends to place a driveway; she said rural services indicated moving the driveway to the west would be acceptable and that she will obtain a driveway permit before construction.
Spillman said staff’s recommended conditions were acceptable and announced he would add a fifth condition to reflect rural services' comments: that note number 5 on the final plat be amended to require a driveway permit. "I would like to approve this request with 5 conditions and [adopt] the staff report and findings of fact A through C," Spillman said. He approved the replat with those five conditions; no vote tally was recorded in the hearing record.
Spillman also stated that a final plat must be prepared by a registered land surveyor and submitted to the community planning department within 24 months or preliminary approval will become void. He advised that appeals to the hearing officer’s decision must be filed in writing with the borough clerk’s office within 10 working days and that appeal forms are available from the clerk.
The hearing concluded with no public testimony on the item and Spillman adjourning the administrative hearing at 10:08 a.m.
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