Recent fines leveled by the Haines Borough against residents for zoning violations ranging from raising too many chickens to failure to obtain a permit for an RV have the planning commission reconsidering its one-size-fits-all, $250 penalty. Planning and zoning technician Tracy Cui has been enforcing the code more than her predecessors, said planning commission chair Rob Goldberg. […]
Search results
Posted inNews
Borough looks at own Connelly hydro permit
The Haines Borough is looking into filing for a preliminary permit for the Connelly Lake hydroelectric project, recently dropped by private company Alaska Power and Telephone. Mayor Stephanie Scott said she asked assistant to the manager Darsie Culbeck to investigate the procedures and costs that would be associated with the borough getting involved with the Connelly Lake project. Culbeck said in an interview […]
Posted inNews
Borough to revisit 3-chicken rule
How many chickens are too many to have in residential areas? The Haines Borough Planning Commission will take up that question at its Sept. 12 meeting. It’s been asked to consider relaxing restrictions on chickens that currently limit homeowners to three in the townsite’s residential zones. More can be allowed with a conditional use permit. Sara Chapell, […]
Posted inNews
Interest in local food boosts small farms
Interest in locally grown produce is helping boost a new generation of small farms in the Chilkat Valley. The resulting bumper crop is giving residents more shopping choices, as well as supplying local stores, restaurants and even the Haines School with fresh produce. It’s also transforming the Haines Farmers Market, where offerings were once limited […]
Posted inNews
Setbacks idea hits resistance
The Haines Borough Planning Commission is trying to put setback limits on development in general use zones, but some assembly members are skeptical about the ramifications of such a change. The commission is proposing any industrial development on general use land require a 50-foot setback from residential lots. The ordinance, if passed, would also require residences in […]
Posted inNews
Yurts, wall tents, RVs get assembly’s OK
People staying in yurts and wall tents can live there as long as they want, even though the Haines Borough Planning Commission would have it otherwise. The Haines Borough Assembly Aug. 27 struck down the planning commission’s recommendation to add yurts, recreational vehicles and wall tents to the borough code’s definition of “temporary use dwellings,” a change that would […]
Posted inNews
No headhunting for manager job
The Haines Borough Assembly will not hire a headhunting firm to find the municipality’s next manager, but will instead conduct the hiring process itself. The assembly voted 5-0 Tuesday to move ahead with advertising the position without the assistance of an outside firm. Assembly member Debra Schnabel recused herself from voting as she intends to submit an application for […]
Posted inNews
Governor discusses oil taxes, economy
Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell this week voiced optimism that a billion-dollar oil industry tax break he pushed through last year would bring returns to Haines equivalent to the funding that is building projects like the McRae-Soboleff Veterans Village. Parnell said his trip to Haines Tuesday was “to better understand the concerns of the community and […]
Posted inNews
School improvements won’t make fall ballot
Haines Borough voters won’t be deciding a $5 million bond for districtwide school improvements in the Oct. 1 election after all. At its Aug. 13 meeting, the assembly voted unanimously to indefinitely postpone an ordinance for the ballot measure. The postponement came at the request of borough manager Mark Earnest, who told assembly members the borough […]
Posted inNews, Public Safety
Motorized use at beach resurfaces
The Haines Borough Assembly will look into putting teeth into a state directive against use of motorized vehicles on Chilkat River beaches. Confusion among area residents, borough staff and law enforcement officials over the legality of riding ATVs on the beaches led Mayor Stephanie Scott to investigate the issue. Scott concluded that while commercial motorized use is prohibited, personal use of ATVs […]