Right-wing assembly members take aim at Fairbanks process that protects, encourages public trails

Under the guise of protecting property rights, Fairbanks assembly members Tammie Wilson and Jimi Cash are taking aim at a key provision in local law that makes Fairbanks more livable, raises property values and protects local trails for hiking, running, mushing, skiing, snowmaking and all-terrain vehicles.

The long-standing provision is one that says when land is subdivided along a major trail, an easement is required to be included in the plan. This will mainly have an impact on the institutional land holders in the Fairbanks area that develop subdivisions from time to time.

The rest of the right-wing majority on the assembly can be expected to go along with Wilson and Cash who say that requiring an easement is government theft.

The easement rule applies to “Category A” Trails of statewide or regional importance and “Category B” trails, which are important to the community. Below is a section of borough code that deals with this matter:

First off, Mayor Bryce Ward is correct in recommending that the Wilson-Cash plan for future subdivisions needs to be reviewed by the platting board. The same review is needed of the proposed substitute by Aaron Lojewski. The future financial consequences of Lojewski’s plan for fee waivers from a platting fee have not been examined.

What has also not been examined by the anti-government zealots on the assembly are the private and public benefits to residents of the Fairbanks North Star Borough from having a sensible plan to promote and preserve major trails.

Eric Troyer has this overview of the situation.

“There are several popular trails that might or would definitely be affected by losing the trail easement requirement. At minimum we should research these to see how they might be affected and what landowners would be involved. Examples include the Yukon Quest Trail, the Equinox Marathon Trail, trails in and around Cleary Summit and Chatanika, trails connecting Skyline Ridge Park to the Skarland Trail, trails on and around Ester Dome, trails in the Goldstream Valley, and trails off Old Murphy Dome Road and into the Chatanika River valley,” Troyer writes.

“At minimum, please ask that the ordinances be referred to the Platting Board and the Trails Advisory Commission. To call or send an email see this page. If you can, please attend the January 12 assembly meeting. To find out more about attending, including how to attend by Zoom see this webpage.”