The CVN correctly reported that at the June 13 assembly meeting, I’d said it wasn’t “right” to cause such undue noise in neighbors’ homes. The CVN didn’t mention that my partner and I gave a 45-minute presentation explaining why the assembly should hear our appeal of the illegal permit. We detailed the numerous ways that granting such a permit violates Borough law – specifically HBC 18.50.040(A) 1,2,4,5,6,7, and 8, and 18.60.010(P). Unfortunately, the assembly voted to not consider the appeal signed by 18 neighbors. This prevented a full hearing, with all evidence, to allow assembly consideration of overturning the illegitimate permit. Chilkat Lake Road neighbors aren’t asking for special consideration. We just want the planning commission, manager, and assembly to fairly and consistently apply existing law, upholding our uses-by-right. In the general use zone, heliports are a conditional use, only to be allowed if “in harmony” with surrounding land uses. The overwhelming majority of comments from nearby residents oppose the heliport. Yet the borough counts our dozens of taxpaying voices as less than a single, law-breaking industrial developer. He’s been servicing Constantine without a permit. And he’s industrializing part of the Little Salmon River without state or federal authorization. This violates borough code and the terms of his conditional use permit. The borough manager is sworn to uphold and enforce borough law, and is required to revoke this conditional use permit. Who or what does each borough official actually work for?
Nicholas Szatkowski