Opinion ID: 2594248
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Native Village of Eklutna v. Board of Adjustment

Text: Our 2000 decision, Native Village of Eklutna v. Board of Adjustment, forms the backdrop of this case. [1] In that case, the Native Village of Eklutna challenged a decision by the Municipality of Anchorage to grant a conditional use permit to the National Bank of Alaska, allowing the bank to operate a granite mine on bank-owned property near Eklutna. [2] We concluded that the Municipality had ignored evidence that the mining operation would destroy one of two hills for which the village of Eklutna was named, observing that [t]he historical value of the twin hills that gave Eklutna its name is a cultural factor that should have been considered by the Municipality. [3] We remanded the case to the Municipality for determination of how the mining operation would impact the preservation of historic and archaeological resources, as required by the Municipality's comprehensive development plan. [4]