The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is accepting applications through May 29 from anyone interested in leasing 22 acres of state land for farming near Anchor Point.

Polestar LLC, doing business as Barowcliff Family Farms, applied to lease the parcel to expand its small-scale organic operation. The land sits about 4.5 miles southeast of Anchor Point in the southern half of Section 24, Township 5 South, Range 15 West.

Under state law, the department must determine whether other parties want to develop the site for similar agricultural use. If additional qualified applications arrive by the May 29 deadline, the state will hold a competitive auction. If not, the department will negotiate directly with Barowcliff Family Farms.

Anyone expressing interest must submit a complete lease application and development plan within 30 days after the May 29 deadline. The applicant is seeking a 15-year lease to grow and cultivate produce on land adjacent to property it already owns.

If no competing applications arrive, the department will issue a preliminary decision and open a separate 30-day public comment period before making a final decision.

Interested parties should contact Audrey Gilroy, natural resource specialist, at the Division of Mining, Land and Water in Anchorage. She can be reached at 907-269-8111 or [email protected]. A map of the proposed lease area is available with the public notice.