Assembly approves auction and lottery sales for West Chittenica River lots, limits staff participation

The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly adopted Ordinance 20‑26‑07 on March 31 authorizing sale of 54 borough lots in the West Chittenica River recreational subdivision, a south‑facing, trail‑access development roughly 38 road miles north of Fairbanks.

Natural Resources manager Danny Welch described the project as an outdoor‑recreation subdivision (lots average 5–7 acres), with 18 acres of dedicated rights‑of‑way and three miles of trails designed for ATVs, side‑by‑sides and snowmachines. The administration proposed three concurrent sales methods: sealed bid (9 lots), an online auction (20 lots) and a lottery sale for the initial phase, with Alaska residents given priority for the first three sale methods. Unsold parcels will funnel to a secondary online auction and then to over‑the‑counter sales.

Assembly debate focused on fairness and conflict‑of‑interest rules. Assemblymember Reeves proposed, and the Assembly adopted, amendments to exclude Assembly members, the mayor, the chief of staff and certain staff from participating in sealed bids and online auctions; a later amendment to allow lottery participation by Assembly members failed.

The ordinance passed, as amended, by voice/roll call and was recorded as carrying 9‑0. Administration said sale timing is tentatively late May to mid‑June, with a $25 lottery ticket fee specified in the ordinance; appraisal work and advertising will follow before final sale dates are posted.

The ordinance includes provisions to limit purchases to one winning lottery lot per person and to manage lot distribution to avoid concentrated ownership that could threaten trail use. The Assembly’s action moves the sale process forward; the administration will finalize appraisals, post the auction schedule and implement the lottery and online‑auction platforms.