Eric Fleming, a resident of Whittier, Alaska, is facing a lawsuit from the City of Whittier for developing his property without a building and land use permit. Fleming had requested a permit on March 29, 2024, but was denied a month later due to non-compliance with lot size requirements and lack of a plan for connecting to water and sewer utilities.
Despite the denial, Fleming began clearing trees and building a driveway on his 11,000-square-foot plot. He claimed he was unaware that this was against the Whittier Municipal Code. Fleming said he only removed overgrown vegetation to get a view of the buildable area and put in a driveway to access the property.
However, the city was notified in August that Fleming was continuing to work on the land, including installing a culvert in the city’s right-of-way. A Police officer approached Fleming and told him to stop working, but allegedly disregarded the direction and continued.
Eric Fleming was unaware of the lawsuit until contacted by Alaska’s News Source on Thursday evening. He plans to fight the lawsuit, possibly with the help of an attorney or community support. Fleming wants to build a house or cabin on the land he purchased last winter.
The City of Whittier leaders and their attorneys have not commented. Fleming’s case highlights the importance of obtaining necessary permits before developing property. The lawsuit results from Fleming’s failure to comply with city regulations, despite being denied a permit.
This news story was originally published by Alaska News Source.
