The Haines Borough Planning Commission approved a setback variance on Front Street last week, paving the way for the first home to be built on the Portage Cove beach in more than 20 years.
“It’s a little slice of heaven,” said landowner Dave Pahl, who has a shack on a 1,600-square-foot beach lot and is planning to build a 14-by-20-foot, single-story structure. Allowing for required 10-foot setbacks, the 32-foot width of the lot would have…