Four Proposed Land Use Code Changes to be Discussed by Assembly

The Mat-Su Borough Assembly will hear four proposed land use changes at their meetings over the next month. The proposed Large Lot District ordinance will be discussed at the November 18 Assembly meeting.

Large Lot Districts would restrict landowners in certain neighborhoods from subdividing their parcels to be smaller than five acres. At least two-thirds of the property owners must agree to the new large-lot designation. Any parcels smaller than five acres at the time of approval would be considered legal non-conforming properties.

The Planning Commission unanimously failed the ordinance after several members of the public and District 4 Assemblymember Maxwell Sumner spoke against the ordinance at the meeting. The ordinance was proposed by District 1 Assemblymember Tim Hale.

Reducing the pedestrian easement setback to ten feet will likely be heard by the Assembly on December 2. This ordinance will reduce the width of easement required for pedestrian facilities and will give more land back to the landowner as usable space.

In contrast to the large-lot district proposal, the small-lot ordinance proposed by Sumner was approved by the Planning Commission on November 4. This ordinance would allow lots sizes to be reduced to 30,000 square feet to allow for more dense development and shared space for multiple septic systems and wells. This proposed ordinance will likely be up for discussion by the Assembly on December 16. 

Instead of a mandatory land use permit requirement, Sumner proposes a mandatory land use review and determination process. This would still apply to buildings 480 square feet or more and anything within 75 feet of a watercourse or water body. The Planning Department would have five days to review or return the application fee if this ordinance passes. Planning and Land Use Director Alex Strawn says this is a more proactive approach that would provide landowners with information about floodplains, setbacks, driveways, special land use districts, and other issues that might affect their development. The Assembly is likely to discuss this proposed ordinance on December 16.