Summer 2024 Update

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments on the draft. Read on to view the updated plan and get involved in next steps.

01

ACCESS THE FINAL PLAN

The Public Review Draft of Downtown Fairbanks 2040 was released on September 6, 2023, with comments accepted through October 13, 2023. Click below to review comments received and how they were addressed in the final plan.

Learn More and Share Your Feedback at Upcoming Meetings

  • Thursday, July 25: FNSB Assembly Public Hearing (click here for meeting details)

Listen and View Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Plan

  • Tuesday, April 23: Planning Commission Public Hearing (click here for meeting details)
  • Wednesday, April 24: Chena Riverfront Commission presentation (click here for meeting details)
  • Monday, May 13: City of Fairbanks City Council Public Hearing (click here for meeting details)

02

PURPOSE

The Fairbanks North Star Borough is working with community partners to develop an area plan for Downtown Fairbanks. The plan will guide policy, growth and development of our urban core for years to come.

The Plan will be a tool to:

  • Guide future development of the downtown;
  • Improve navigability for people visiting downtown;
  • Outline options to increase quality and affordable housing in the downtown area;
  • Identify other areas for improvement through community and other stakeholder engagement; and,
  • Bring the private and public sector together to develop an area plan that strengthens the economy and community.

The Plan will address:

Economic Development

Housing

Land Use

Parking

Public Safety

Quality of Life

Transportation

Downtown Fairbanks 2040

This planning process is part of a continued effort to develop a plan to better serve the unique needs and vision of Downtown Fairbanks residents, businesses, and visitors. The Downtown Plan Working Group and project team have and will continue to review and consider past and current plans, community input, relevant data, and best practices to develop Downtown Fairbanks 2040.

03

PROJECT TEAM

Who is Leading the Process?

The Fairbanks North Star Borough with guidance from the Downtown Working Group and assistance from a consulting team.  

FNSB Project Manager

Melissa Kellner
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Long-Range Planner/Project Manager

Downtown Fairbanks 2040 Working Group

In 2017, then-Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Karl Kassel assembled a Working Group comprised of downtown-minded community members to lead the Downtown Fairbanks planning process. Most original Working Group members remain committed, and the group has brought on new members that share a stake in the future of the downtown area. Working Group members include…

  • Brenda Riley
  • Buki Wright
  • Chris Miller
  • Deb Hickok – former member
  • Doug Sims – former member
  • Geri Simon – former member
  • Jackson Fox
  • Jerry Cleworth
  • John Jackovich – former member
  • Sabrina Binkley – former member
  • Scott McCrea 
  • Sharon Hildebrand
  • Sue Sprinkle
The Working Group is supported by a technical team of City of Fairbanks, Fairbanks Area Surface Transportation Planning, and Fairbanks North Star Borough Community Planning and other staff.

Consulting Team

The Alaska-based firms, both with an extensive history of living and working in and with the FNSB community, include:

Agnew::Beck Consulting is lead consultant, managing stakeholder engagement, project communications, and development of plan components. In 2020, Agnew::Beck worked with FNSB staff to conduct interviews with downtown business owners, Working Group Members, and to analyze FNSB and downtown population and housing data.

RESPEC is assisting with the mapping and the public safety components of the downtown plan.

04

SCHEDULE

PROJECT START TO COMPLETION

2017-2020

Project Start & Preliminary Plan Development

FNSB Planning Department and Working Group launch process, establish roles, conduct stakeholder engagement, and develop initial plan components.  

SUMMER/FALL 2021

Project Re-Launch

FNSB Planning Department and Working Group launch process, establish roles, conduct stakeholder engagement, and develop initial plan components.  

WINTER 21-SUMMER 23

Draft Development

Build off existing work, new data, and stakeholder engagement to develop full draft plan.

FALL/WINTER 2023

Public Review Draft

Share draft plan and gather community and other stakeholder input

WINTER 2023/2024

Final Draft

Revise plan to address feedback.

SRING/SUMMER 2024

adoption process

Conduct formal FNSB Planning Commission and Assembly review and adoption process.

05

PROJECT RESOURCES

06

CONTACT US

Send us your comments, questions or concerns.

Melissa Kellner, Fairbanks North Star Borough
Deputy Director/Project Manager
Phone: 907.459.1252
Email: melissa.kellner@fnsb.gov

Shelly Wade, Agnew::Beck Consulting
Consultant Project Manager
Cell: 907.242.5326 (call or text)
Email: shelly@agnewbeck.com  

Copyright 2021, Fairbanks North Star Borough

Photo Credit: Sherman Hogue/Explore Fairbanks