Work on Haines Borough‘s 10-year comprehensive plan got under way on Tuesday as tensions between environmentalists and resource developers and concerns over the process for developing the plan simmered below the surface.
Boroughs are required to periodically update their comprehensive plans under state law. The plans guide the planning commission and assembly about code and zoning changes that can guide how Haines will develop in the coming decade. Officials hope the plan can be finalized by December with meetings scheduled this week, and again in September and November.
Borough officials urged residents to get involved and voice their thoughts on how Haines develops over the next decade.
“When people are thinking about housing issues, or when people are thinking about the high cost of living here — these are things we want to hear your perspectives on,” borough manager Annette Kreitzer said in an interview.
Scheduling plan revisions has been controversial. Kreitzer has been pushing for an update to the 2012 comprehensive plan, which expires in 2025.
Critics have questioned why the borough doesn’t wait until after the city elects a new planning commission. Haines voters recently passed a change in code that would make planning commission members elected by a vote, instead of being appointed by the Mayor. That election will be held in October. The Mayor and three assembly members will also be up for a vote then, meaning the borough’s leadership could be vastly different by the time the comprehensive plan is approved.
Several speakers brought up the issue of pushing forward with a comprehensive plan before the current one expires in 2025.
But Shelly Wade, a facilitator for the consultant Agnew Beck hired by the borough, said that having leadership changes during planning commission discussions is not unusual. Kreitzer also pointed out that the comprehensive plan won’t be approved until December, after the election.
“I keep saying this over and over again: this is about all the residents, it’s not necessarily about the elected officials,” Kreitzer told the CVN. “The planning commission, when it’s elected, will have the opportunity to present this as a recommendation to the Assembly.”
Earlier in the day Tuesday at meetings in the Aspen Hotel, about 20 residents gathered for topic meetings on land use and later on economic development. Some speakers brought up environmental concerns over mining and helicopter operations that are being permitted in the borough.
One speaker said “watershed integrity” should be the main goal of land use planning, pointing out that many residents are attracted to Haines’ clean waters and salmon fishing. Another resident suggested preserving the “natural soundscape” should be a goal of land use, an apparent reference to controversies over permitting of heliports in residential areas. Others suggested highlighting the strength of Haines’ mineral resources and its history of mining.
Officials put a positive spin on the disagreements.
“There is consensus in this community on things, and it’s going to be building on that consensus and then trying to sort out the areas where there is contention,” said Kreitzer.
One topic that had drawn consensus was the need to clarify zoning designations in Haines’ last comprehensive plan. The plan included areas that were designated as “multiple use – recreation emphasis” and “multiple – resource use emphasis,” which planners said were vague. Wade said the designations were new to her as well.
Residents also agreed they wanted more data about the Haines demographics. While population data show the number of Haines residents has been relatively steady over the past few decades, there is no reliable data on how many residents live in the community through winter. It’s also unknown how many people live in Haines who work remotely as “digital nomads.”
As part of the development of the comprehensive plan, the borough is working on survey questions to fill in some of the holes in the data.
Still, some residents were concerned over how Agnew Beck was gathering input for its plan. Agnew Beck is individually interviewing assembly and planning commission members. On Wednesday, the group held informal listening sessions with the community at Mountain Market and Haines Brewery.
Residents questioned how the Chilkat Indian Village and the Chilkoot Indian Association would be included. Organizers said they reached out to both tribes, though CIA Tribal Administrator Harriett Brouilette was the only tribal official who attended meetings on Tuesday. Some also questioned how to include fishermen in the planning process. The commercial fishing season began on Sunday.
“Having meetings during the day makes it very difficult to be involved,” said Norm Hughes, a commercial fisherman, during an Economic Development Stakeholder Dialogue on Tuesday. “If you’re trying to get fishermen, beer is always good.”
“You might want to diversify your two locations if you want a broader spectrum of the community,” said Zach Ferrin, chair of the planning commission at a joint meeting with the assembly Tuesday evening. Diana Lapham, another planning commission member, suggested meeting at the Fogcutter Bar.
Officials say they’re hoping to have a central website running by the end of the week where the public can submit comments and learn about the process.