Opinion ID: 2583951
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Alaska Statute 42.40.920(b)

Text: Alaska Statute 42.40.920(b) lists statutes from which the Railroad is exempt. It provides: (b) Unless specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, the following laws do not apply to the operations of the corporation: .... (3) AS 35.... Title 35 of the Alaska Statutes is entitled Public Buildings, Works, and Improvements and authorizes DOTPF to construct almost all public works in the state. [20] Alaska Statute 35.30.020 provides: A department shall comply with local planning and zoning ordinances and other regulations in the same manner and to the same extent as other landowners. In AS 35.95.100(3), department is defined as DOTPF unless the context requires otherwise. Other sections of Title 35 refer to the department; this section's shift to  a department (emphasis added) implies that it subjects any department to local zoning. [21] If AS 35.30.020 applied to the Railroad, then the Railroad would be subject to local zoning. The Railroad argues that the converse must be true: by releasing it from AS 35.30.020, the Railroad claims, ARCA indicates legislative intent to immunize it from such authority. This argument assumes that in the absence of AS 35.30.020, the Railroad would be immune to local zoning. As discussed in Part III.B.2 below, that assumption is faulty. The provision exempting the Railroad from Title 35 shows only the legislature's desire that the Railroad not be treated as a subdivision of DOTPF and that DOTPF not control construction of Railroad projects. ARCA's legislative history supports this reading. [22]