The Downtown Revitalization Committee, in an April 8 letter, asks the Haines Borough to rescind its March 14 decision issuing land-use permits for two trailer-based businesses next to the post office, saying the move came without discussion by borough leaders.
“We question the issuance of these permits prior to the discussion by the assembly and feel strongly it is the job of the planning commission and/or borough assembly to make this important decision,” wrote committee chair Lenise Henderson Fontenot.
Borough manager Mark Earnest on Wednesday said he would ask Mayor Jan Hill to put the matter on the agenda for the May 10 assembly meeting. Earnest said there wasn’t time enough to include the topic in the meeting set for Tuesday. As meeting chair, Hill has final say on what goes on the agenda.
Earnest said on March 2 he wanted assembly or planning commission direction on the question of permitting commercial trailers. “I’ll be asking the assembly to discuss the issue for clarification and direction because it’s a policy issue,” he said.
Two modified trailers that received permits opened as food stands next to the post office in the past year. An ice-cream trailer on Second Avenue that previously operated under temporary permits issued annually also is seeking permanent status.
The assembly discussed registration and taxation of mobile homes at an April 12 committee meeting, but didn’t address operation of commercial trailers outside trailer parks.
On March 3, acting planning commission chair Rob Goldberg asked that commercial trailers be placed on the agenda of the commission’s April 14 meeting, but that didn’t happen. Chair Lee Heinmiller said Goldberg didn’t mention the issue when the agenda was discussed prior to the meeting.
The Downtown Revitalization Committee was created at the request of the borough following completion of its $40,000 downtown plan. Henderson Fontenot is a Main Street business and property owner.
She wrote to the assembly April 8: “The DRC also questions the issuance of business permits for trailer businesses to property owners instead of business owners. Is this correct?”
Henderson Fontenot’s letter asks that permitting of commercial trailers be sent to the planning commission for a decision or recommendation to the assembly.
The revitalization committee also sent the assembly a letter in February, opposing trailer businesses without permanent foundations to have permanent status. Such trailers are not subject to property tax.
“We are in favor of new business, but new business that helps to promote our permanency, long-term investment and contributes to the general fund,” Henderson Fontenot said.
Earnest said this week that he supported an assembly discussion of commercial trailers.