The borough’s GASC committee recommended the assembly require one year of residency before serving on empowered government boards, such as the planning commission. The motion, created by Debra Schnabel and seconded by Gabe Thomas, will be reviewed by the assembly next Tuesday. Schnabel suggested the one year rule work in tandem with additional efforts to familiarize commissioners […]
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Posted inNews
Resident appeals heli permit vote
A resident who lives near a proposed heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway is appealing the Haines Borough Planning Commission’s Dec. 8 approval of a conditional-use permit for the heliport, which would be used for heliskiing operations. The planning commission voted 3-2 to approve a permit application from Chilkat River Adventures to build a heliport along the Chilkat River west of Wells Bridge — a decision […]
Posted inNews
2022: Big year for post-pandemic firsts, Lutak Dock and late rogue crime wave
In 2022, some iteration of the phrase “back after pandemic hiatus” was scattered throughout CVN headlines and stories like crumpled surgical masks littered along city sidewalks and in coat pockets. From the annual Celebration canoe journey and Lynn Canal Community Players productions to the return of large cruise ships and Canadian tourists, 2022 marked the return of […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Planning commissioners should be elected
In the coming weeks, volunteers will be circulating a petition with this question, “Shall Haines Borough voters elect members of the Haines Borough Planning Commission?” With about 250 signatures of residents, this question will go to Haines voters. I encourage you to sign the petition and vote for this change in law. This change simply means the borough’s planning […]
Posted inNews, Elections
Planning commission decisions sparks calls for election of members
A controversial Dec. 8 planning commission meeting motivated a citizen and borough assembly member to seek turning the commission into an elected body rather than an appointed one. The call for change, which could occur through a ballot initiative or by assembly decision, came a few days after the seven-member commission, operating with only five […]
Posted inNews
DOT road transfer plan rooted in state policy
A proposal to improve Lutak Road in exchange for transferring three roads to the Haines Borough has shed light on a state program that favors projects that shift costs onto municipalities. The state selects community transportation projects through a competitive application process with a bias for proposals that involve transferring state-owned facilities to local governments. The Alaska Department of […]
Posted inNews, Housing
Housing Working Group reviews HEDC survey
The Haines Economic Development Center (HEDC) is surveying residents’ experiences and feedback on Haines’ current housing environment. The survey, distributed by HEDC, takes about ten minutes to complete and will be accessible online through links on the borough and HEDC’s web pages. The Borough’s Housing Working Group met last Thursday to revise survey questions. Board […]
Posted inNews
Hearing delayed for proposed heliport
A public hearing over a proposed heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway was postponed last week for the second time in two months. The hearing — now scheduled for Dec. 8 — concerns a conditional use permit for a new heliport that would be used for Alaska Mountain Guides’ heliskiing operations. It would be built on Chilkat River Adventures’ property on […]
Posted inNews
Hearing delayed for proposed heliport
A public hearing over a proposed heliport at 24 Mile Haines Highway was postponed last week for the second time in two months. The hearing — now scheduled for Dec. 8 — concerns a conditional use permit for a new heliport that would be used for Alaska Mountain Guides’ heliskiing operations. It would be built on Chilkat River Adventures’ property on […]
Posted inNews
Borough to negotiate easement between school, proposed RV park
Planning commissioners have asked the Haines Borough Assembly to negotiate — and possibly purchase — an easement between Haines School and a neighboring property where a local developer is building an RV park. For decades planners have assumed there’s an easement where the school’s rear alley runs, behind Thor’s Gym. But that assumption wasn’t accurate, according to […]