Planning Commission to Review Two Changes to Land Use Codes

At their October 6 meeting, the Mat-Su Borough Planning Commission will discuss two potential changes to the land use code. One deals with the Denali State Park Special Land Use District, or SpUD, and the other would create an allowance for large lot districts.

The Denali State Park SpUD currently contains language that automatically changes the boundaries of the SpUD as the State Park boundaries change. According to Borough Planning and Land Use Director Alex Strawn in a previous interview, changes to the land use regulations must first be reviewed by the Planning Commission. He says automatic boundary changes go against the legal requirements.

The language is a small provision within the SpUD code and removing it will not change any other provisions in that code.

A second topic up for discussion is the allowance for large lot districts. The new districts would designate specific areas that could only be subdivided to a minimum five-acre lot size. The goal is to avoid overcrowding and excessive traffic in areas designated as large lot communities. The majority of the residents in the area would need to agree for this designation to be placed.

According to the draft ordinance, lots that are smaller than the minimum size requirement when the designation is placed, would be considered legal non-conforming. And those lots could not be further subdivided. There are currently no large lot districts and communities would need to decide if the designation is appropriate for their neighborhoods. 

Strawn says in a previous interview that if the ordinance passes, large lot districts would simply be a new option for communities to consider. 

The Planning Commission will also introduce several resolutions for the October 20 hearing, including the Capital Improvement Program recommendations, repeal of the mandatory land use permit, and reducing the minimum setback requirement from pedestrian easements.

The Commission meets on Tuesday, October 6 at 6pm.