A conflict over development along Wasilla-Fishhook

PALMER — Although there were no public hearings scheduled for the Oct. 18 Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting, two residents of the Grouse Ridge neighborhood used the audience participation period to inform the assembly of a potentially illegal development in their neck of the woods.

Dwight Probasco said he and his wife Brenda moved to the subdivision off Wasilla-Fishhook Road on Sept. 7. Prior to closing on the purchase of their new property, the Probascos were informed that there was an undeveloped, public right of way between their soon-to-be home and that of their future next-door neighbors, Roy and Maija Fritts.

On Aug. 28, the Probascos received notice from the borough platting division that Grouse Ridge Incorporated — owned by Arlene and Barbara Brunnhoelzl — had submitted a request to create a 21-lot subdivision called Blue Grouse Hill, accessible by North Grouse Loop and the undeveloped right-of-way known as Spruce Hen Loop. A public hearing was held on Thursday, Sept. 15 for affected residents to speak in favor of or against the subdivision, after which the platting board denied the preliminary plat because “there are other viable accesses … that (don’t) negatively impact adjacent neighborhoods,” Probasco said.

But around 8 a.m. on that Saturday morning, Sept. 17, Probasco said his wife witnessed Darrel Greenstreet — who is listed on Facebook as married to an Arlene Brunnhoelzl Greenstreet — and another individual clearing the right of way of trees. Other residents confronted the pair, eventually calling in the Alaska State Troopers and Borough Right-Of-Way Coordinator Andy Dean to sort things out.

Dean told residents that Greenstreet was in possession of a permit to build a driveway on the right-of-way to access his private property, Probasco said.

“When asked why we, the adjacent landowners were not notified … Andy Dean stated we could ‘consider this notification,’” he said.

Probasco’s 3 minutes were up, but the assembly granted him an extra two minutes to speak.

By Friday, Sept. 30, the entire right-of-way had been cleared: a 50-by-348-foot area, Probasco said. He said one of his neighbors asked Greenstreet why he needed a driveway that large, to which Greenstreet allegedly responded, “Damn right I’m not building a driveway.”

Probasco wanted to know if Greenstreet was indeed allowed to do the work that has been done on the right-of-way, pending the outcome of the hearing and Greenstreet’s appeal, which Maija Fritts said wasn’t filed until Oct. 5.

“The board of appeals and adjustments hasn’t even heard his appeal but he’s here constructing his subdivision access,” she said.

Fritts also noted Title 43 of borough code, which describes what happens after a plat is approved, but not what happens after a plat is denied.

“It seems like they’re just amending the permit to meet the needs of the developer, and it just shouldn’t be that way,” she said.

“Thank you, good issue,” Mayor Halter said, following Fritts’ comments.