The Haines Borough Planning Commission will continue to research rezoning efforts at Jones Point as members disagree on a solution.

Takshanuk Watershed Council executive director Derek Poinsette and Professional Property Management owner Sean Gaffney applied in December to rezone 61 acres of land near Jones Point from heavy industrial to rural mixed use.

Poinsette said the nonprofit plans to spend “hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next few years in making the Jones Point property into a center for community recreation, education, research, and conservation,” but it is restricted by the current heavy industrial zone.

Norman Hughes, Takshanuk board member, said the nonprofit can’t even install a garden on the property under current zoning restrictions.

Poinsette said Takshanuk would also provide protection through a Conservation Fund deed for Sawmill Creek, which runs through the property, and other “aquatic resources.”

Commissioner Lee Heinmiller said a sawmill was located there in the 1960s and 70s, but Poinsette said there hasn’t been heavy industrial activity at Jones Point since 1977.

“We would like to invest in that area for what the community is like today,” Poinsette said at the April 5 commission meeting.

But several community members testified against rezoning the land. Borough planner Holly Smith said it is one of only two areas zoned for heavy industry in the townsite, but most of the heavy industrial lands in the borough are instead being used for commercial purposes.

“We need to keep some of this heavy industrial land for future growth,” said resident Don Turner. In light of the proposed University of Alaska timber sale, Marty Smith said the location could be great for local production of wood products, but he said he would be satisfied if the borough designated another area in the townsite for heavy industry if this property were rezoned.

Haynes Tormey said he would support a biomass system or pellet mill on the land.

“The future of Haines, it’s wide open,” Tormey said.

Smith said the land in question was flat, dry and close to town. Jones Point Cemetery, a car repair shop and the Alaska Mountain Guides’ offices are near the property, which commission chair Rob Goldberg said is preferable over residences next to heavy industrial activity.

The land surrounding the 61 acres is zoned as rural mixed use. “A heavy industrial zone is something that no one wants until it’s needed,” Smith said.

Patty Kermoian spoke in favor of the rezoning, saying that the borough “needs to go with the progression in the community for new ideas.”

Commissioner Donnie Turner said he was disappointed that Takshanuk purchased a property they knew was zoned for heavy industrial use.

“I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say you bought a piece of industrial property and (the borough) can keep it that way,” Turner said.

Manager Debra Schnabel said it would be “terrible to mandate the property owner to deal with a zone that doesn’t suit their needs.”

Because a residential mixed use zone allows residences as a use by right, Goldberg said he would like the commission and applicants to consider rezoning all property near Jones Point, including land owned by the state and other property owners, to light industrial commercial.

“I really think it might be the solution to allow everyone to do what they want,” Goldberg said. He said light industrial commercial zones allow for parks, industry, residences, hotels and more.

Commissioner Jeremy Stephens argued that Goldberg’s suggestion didn’t relate to the application at hand. Goldberg disagreed, saying it was a larger zoning issue.

Stephens made a motion to rezone the northern portion of the property to residential mixed use, including the baseball fields on Sawmill Road that are on heavy industrial land, but the effort failed. Poinsette said at the meeting he looked into allowances for all zones and preferred residential mixed use.

Commissioners agreed to do more research on Goldberg’s suggestion and come to the next meeting ready to make a decision.