The manager of Coastal Helicopters has filed for a conditional use permit to site a helipad near 35 Mile Old Haines Highway.
Michael Wilson, general manager of Coastal Helicopters, plans to site the helipad on a 10.4-acre parcel of property. In the permit application, Wilson wrote the helipad “will allow the Alaska Heliskiing operation to move from the road-side operation among residences at 33 Mile to a more private, remote and safer operational area away from existing residences and vehicular traffic.”
According to the Alaska Heliskiing website, the company co-operates with Coastal Helicopters. Alaska Heliskiing co-owner Sean Brownell and Wilson are partners in the 35 Mile property, said Ryan Johnson, who co-owns the heli-skiing outfit with Brownell.
Johnson said he wasn’t aware the application had been submitted.
Johnson said Alaska Heliskiing doesn’t have any immediate plans to transfer its operations from 33 Mile to 35 Mile. “Obviously, these helipad requests are contentious and take some time,” he said. “It’s a matter of keeping options open.”
The application states the conditional use permit would “facilitate construction of a lodge on the existing 40-by-60-foot foundation with another existing well and septic system. There are plans for additional accommodation facilities with restrooms and food service.”
Johnson said Alaska Heliskiing would like to have a lodge at some point, but it’s not part of the company’s plan right now.
Wilson said in his application that “activity and development in this area will help increase property values and tax revenues for the City of Haines.”
The FAA has reviewed the site and granted a private heliport designation, Wilson wrote.
Wilson did not return a call for comment by press time.
Haines heli-ski companies currently use three approved heliports at the Haines Airport, 18 Mile Haines Highway and 33 Mile Haines Highway.
In September 2014, the planning commission approved a conditional use permit for local developer John Floreske to install three helipads at 10 Mile Haines Highway.
The heli-ski company Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures this summer resumed its push for another conditional use permit for a helipad near 26 Mile Haines Highway. Owner Scott Sundberg withdrew the application after manager David Sosa recommended the planning commission postpone its decision “until the noise study is complete and the borough has had an opportunity to develop clear standards of acceptable noise thresholds.”