Opinion ID: 2448997
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Subdivision Of Tract A And Dedication Of Disputed Land To Borough

Text: In 1979 James Yeisley commissioned a subdivision survey as part of a subdivision application he had filed with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough (Borough). In February 1980 the Zoning Administrator for the Borough recommended that the Planning Commission approve the commissioned survey as a plat of the land. In the recommendation, the right-of-way shown on the proposal the disputed landwas confirmed as existing. During a hearing before the Planning Commission, Harold Cowan objected to the preliminary plat and stated that he [had] a 30 foot right-of-way and the lower lines [of the commissioned survey] don't show this. The Planning Commission approved the plat with the condition that the final plat note a 30-foot right of way. In March 1980 the Borough recorded a modified version of the 1979 survey as final plat 80-9. The certificate of ownership on plat 80-9 was signed only by the Yeisleys; the Cowans did not sign the plat. In May 1980 Ellen Cowan wrote a letter to the Borough stating that she was holding a deed to [the] existing 30 ft right of way and that she had no intention of opening up this right of way to anyone. In 1981 there was an additional resubdivision of Tract A. A new plat was recorded as plat 81-40, and only the Yeisleys signed the certificate of ownership.