The 35 Mile heliport conditional use permit application has landed back in the planning commission’s lap despite the applicant’s efforts to subvert the process. The issue of commercial heliports on private property will continue to come up until it is addressed and properly dealt with by the borough.
The borough’s comprehensive plan specifically states that the propagation of heliports on private property is not a long-term planning goal. The borough is currently involved in another lawsuit. There are business entities that will continue to force the issue. This is not in the best interest of the public or private property owners. By granting conditional use permits for heliports, the borough is writing off the objections of neighboring property owners who don’t want noise pollution and the impacts that are clearly associated with it. There are other options.
The comprehensive plan calls for a commercial public heliport in the upper valley. It doesn’t matter if some operators say they won’t use it. If it is required in their permit, as specific heliports are now, they will have no choice. No concessions are necessary. In the meantime, a moratorium on any further heliport CUPs is warranted, as it is questionable that the eight criteria for a permit can ever be met.
We currently have four permitted heliports in the Chilkat Valley, an ample amount to serve the industry with dispersed access to the entire borough-approved heli-ski area. Permitting any more heliports at this time would be irresponsible.
Thom Ely