PLATTING BOARD MEETING - Municipality of Anchorage

PLATTING BOARD MEETING Page 18
May 4, 2005
JOE BURNHAM spoke in favor of this subdivision. He stated he owns property further
up the mountain from the proposed subdivision and he would be using the access being
proposed for this subdivision. He stated with respect to condition 5 on the proposed plat
to resolve the location of a 20-foot trails easement with the Municipal Trails Coordinator,
that the landowners in this area formed a homeowners association to address this issue.
The homeowners association has been working with the trails people and Municipal
Trails Coordinator who agreed to allow the location of trails to be resolved and for
section line easements to be used wherever possible. He stated this is a dangerous ravine;
there is better access along the section lines. In a meeting last week there was agreement
to using section lines whenever possible. Landowners in the area have no objection to
people using trails, but do object to a requirement for a trail in a certain area when platted
easements can be used. He understood when he bought his property that all of the
properties were subject to the joint use easement agreed to by the previous owners and
that existing owners are subject to that easement, which runs with the land.
CHUCK LEKITES, owner of the property to the west of Cloud Nine Subdivision, stated
he favors the subdivision. He clarified that trails will be located along section line
easements.
BOARD MEMBER KREGER asked the location of Mr. Lekites' property. MR.
LEKITES stated his property is to the west of Cloud Nine, Lot A2 of Marguerite Hills.
ROBERT JACOBS, owner of Lot 2 Marguerite Hills, a 40-acre parcel adjoining Cloud
Nine Subdivision on the southwest, stated he spoke previously about the trails issue. He
has a meeting with Land Design North to discuss the use of section line easements and to
come to an agreement among the property owners in this area. He bought his 40 acres
about 15 years ago and has watched as people have wandered the hillside. He also lived
on Switzerland Drive in 1977 and used to run up to the top of Mt. Baldy. He stated he has
worked as a certified mountain guide for 26 years so he is not against hiking/use of the
land. He thought the idea behind the trail issue was to define the exact location of the
trail. He thought that people had the idea that these trails would lead to Chugach State
Park, but the park is far away from this location; the trails go to private land only. He
stated he has read the 1997 plan that speaks to connectivity between subdivisions and
there is an uncertain understanding of what that means. The 20-foot easement being
discussed in relation to this subdivision goes directly to his property and ends at his
property line.
DAVE MATTISON, owner of Lot 1A-1 Marguerite Hills bordering the subdivision’s
west boundary on the north side, voiced concern with the 20-foot trail easement being
proposed. He commented that the initial request was for connectivity between
neighborhoods and he felt that section lines provide both north/south and east/west
connections. Everyone who lives in the area is concerned with trails because the trails as
proposed would lead from one private parcel to another parcel. He noted that the nearest
State Park is 5.5 miles away and access would be better served with section lines.