Hearing approves replat to split lots at Bunnell Park Subdivision, grants utilities 30 days to review final plat
March 19, 2026 | Fairbanks North Star (Borough), Alaska
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
A borough hearing officer approved RP016-26 on March 19, 2026, allowing VEI Consultants, on behalf of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to realign the common lot line between Lots 5A and 6A in Bunnell Park Subdivision and to vacate an abandoned waterline easement.
Zach Lee, the staff contact for the community planning department, told the hearing the request qualifies as a quick plat because it reorganizes existing lot lines without increasing the number of lots and does not create new violations of the borough’s design or public-improvement requirements under Title 17. Lee said staff recommended approval with four conditions and three findings of fact.
Applicants James Sweeney and surveyor Scott Roelfs of VEI Consultants said the replat’s primary purpose is to put the meeting house on a separate lot from the temple and ancillary building and to remove an abandoned water line that runs between the parcels. Roelfs said prior sketches considered reducing private utility easement (PUE) widths from 30 to 20 feet, but the applicants reverted to retaining the parent plat’s 30-foot PUE on the north and west edges after receiving comments. Roelfs added that GCI’s stamped drawings showed approval and that Utility Service of Alaska had no objection to removing the abandoned waterline.
During questioning, the hearing officer and staff confirmed that the 150-foot driveway-distance reference on the parent plat is measured from the edge of pavement and that the parent subdivision was recorded on 08/21/1984. Applicants said they will improve Denison Court to borough requirements; they noted the fire marshal did not require paving the cul-de-sac bulb and said they had not yet arranged routine maintenance with rural services, which the hearing officer encouraged them to pursue.
The hearing officer amended one staff condition so that GVEA and Utility Service of Alaska would have up to 30 calendar days to review and comment on the final plat. The officer approved the preliminary plat with five conditions as amended and adopted staff findings A through C. A final plat must be prepared by a registered land surveyor and submitted to the community planning department within 24 months, or the preliminary approval becomes void. Appeals must be made in writing to the borough clerk’s office within 10 working days.
Key technical details cited at the hearing: the approved replat will create two lots of approximately 5.28 acres and 2.30 acres; the property fronts Geist Road and has access via Denison Court and Kyle Court; direct lot access onto Geist Road remains prohibited per Title 17 restrictions carried over from the parent plat.
The borough clerk recorded no public testimony on the item. The hearing concluded at 10:17 a.m.
Zach Lee, the staff contact for the community planning department, told the hearing the request qualifies as a quick plat because it reorganizes existing lot lines without increasing the number of lots and does not create new violations of the borough’s design or public-improvement requirements under Title 17. Lee said staff recommended approval with four conditions and three findings of fact.
Applicants James Sweeney and surveyor Scott Roelfs of VEI Consultants said the replat’s primary purpose is to put the meeting house on a separate lot from the temple and ancillary building and to remove an abandoned water line that runs between the parcels. Roelfs said prior sketches considered reducing private utility easement (PUE) widths from 30 to 20 feet, but the applicants reverted to retaining the parent plat’s 30-foot PUE on the north and west edges after receiving comments. Roelfs added that GCI’s stamped drawings showed approval and that Utility Service of Alaska had no objection to removing the abandoned waterline.
During questioning, the hearing officer and staff confirmed that the 150-foot driveway-distance reference on the parent plat is measured from the edge of pavement and that the parent subdivision was recorded on 08/21/1984. Applicants said they will improve Denison Court to borough requirements; they noted the fire marshal did not require paving the cul-de-sac bulb and said they had not yet arranged routine maintenance with rural services, which the hearing officer encouraged them to pursue.
The hearing officer amended one staff condition so that GVEA and Utility Service of Alaska would have up to 30 calendar days to review and comment on the final plat. The officer approved the preliminary plat with five conditions as amended and adopted staff findings A through C. A final plat must be prepared by a registered land surveyor and submitted to the community planning department within 24 months, or the preliminary approval becomes void. Appeals must be made in writing to the borough clerk’s office within 10 working days.
Key technical details cited at the hearing: the approved replat will create two lots of approximately 5.28 acres and 2.30 acres; the property fronts Geist Road and has access via Denison Court and Kyle Court; direct lot access onto Geist Road remains prohibited per Title 17 restrictions carried over from the parent plat.
The borough clerk recorded no public testimony on the item. The hearing concluded at 10:17 a.m.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
