The Haines Borough Planning Commission voted 6-1 to approve a conditional use permit for a heliport at a 26 Mile airport amid opposition from neighbors concerned about helicopter noise at their homes.

George Campbell applied for the permit after the borough manager in February issued a cease-and-desist order for heliport operations at his 26-Mile airport, Airkat Airpark. Campbell had contracted with Constantine Metals and Raw TV for the use of his FAA certified airport for their helicopters without a conditional use permit for a heliport, a requirement in the general use zone where he lives. The cease-and-desist order was given three months after neighbors lodged complaints with the borough manager and clerk.

Nearby neighbors opposing the permit expressed concern about helicopter noise, a concern that’s come up repeatedly at meetings going back years when someone applies for a heliport near a residential area.

“There are several residences directly bordering the airstrip, including ours (and) numerous others, who will be directly impacted by the unacceptable noise, disturbance of privacy, increasing levels of dust and air pollution,” wrote Hans and Natalie Baertle.

Erika Merklin, who alerted borough staff to the helicopter activities, cited a noise study the borough commissioned in 2015, when the heliski company Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures applied for a heliport permit in the area.

“This heliport location is actually closer to residences than the SEABA application,” Merklin said. “There has been the addition of new residences built since that time. People live there.”

Borough manager Annette Kreitzer recommended the commission approve the conditional use permit. The recommendation angered residents, who said helicopters would cause “undue noise,” one of eight conditions any application for a heliport conditional use permit must avoid. She cited noise already generated in the area that includes industrial uses at Campbell’s airport and dismissed a noise study the borough commissioned in 2015 after a similar issue arose.

“There are no specific noise standards adopted by the borough to make ‘undue noise’ a less subjective factor in CUP decisions,” Kreitzer wrote.

Commissioner Travis Eckhoff was the sole dissenting vote. He cited a December planning commission decision to award a conditional use permit for a heliport at 24-mile Haines Highway, which faced similar opposition because of noise complaints. The decision was appealed to the borough assembly, which later overturned the commission’s decision.

“I disagree with the manager’s recommendation,” Eckhoff said. “Reviewing the application and the information that’s been provided, there isn’t sufficient information to actually evaluate the application for that criterial. Recently we’ve seen one helicopter CUP approved and then appealed. The appeal was based on there wasn’t sufficient evidence to support the conclusion of the first. I think we’re falling into this same category.”

Two planning commissioners suggested amendments to the permit, both of which were approved by the commission. Commissioner Scott Hansen added language that limits the hours for takeoffs and landings for helicopter air taxi operations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Commissioner Diana Lapham added the stipulation that the permit go into effect for a one-year trial period that would come back to the commission for review.

“I think it’s a step forward because we have a residential area so close to the airport,” Lapham said. “What I’m trying to seek is how invasive the helicopters are actually going to be, in relation to aircraft. It might be nothing, but we don’t know.”

Campbell told the commission he doesn’t intend to use his airport for regular helicopter use because it interferes with the primary purpose of his facility, which caters to fixed-wing aircraft.

“For us to run any major helicopter operation, we basically close the runway,” Campbell said. “We did that for the safety of aircraft. It’s not like we have an area that we want to encourage lots and lots of helicopters, because that just shuts down our fixed-wing traffic and I don’t have a helicopter license.”