Four hours before the Haines Borough Planning Commission was set to hear a conditional use permit application for a heliport at 26 Mile, the applicant Big Salmon Ventures withdrew the application, citing lack of commissioners at the meeting. In 2011, the Planning Commission denied Big Salmon Ventures’ heli-port application. In 2014, they approved a one-year permit while the borough […]
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Borough fines Skagway tour company
The Haines Borough this month fined Skagway tour company Alaska Excursions $2,500 for operating a tour at Glacier Point without a permit in 2017. Alaska Excursion’s Robert Murphy operates the Glacier Point canoe tour. The Haines Borough discovered the unpermitted activity after a competing tour company notified staff that Alaska Excursions was advertising a different ATV tour without a […]
Posted inNews, Timber
Assembly: University timber sale University timber sale
The Haines Borough Assembly voted to evaluate the borough’s legal options if the University of Alaska awards a timber sale contract in the Chilkat Peninsula because “the proposed University timber sale violates all existing provisions for commercial use in the Mud Bay rural residential zone as well as the purpose and intent of that code.” Assembly member Stephanie […]
Posted inNews, Timber
Assembly: University timber sale violates Mud Bay code
The Haines Borough Assembly voted to evaluate the borough’s legal options if the University of Alaska awards a timber sale contract in the Chilkat Peninsula because “the proposed University timber sale violates all existing provisions for commercial use in the Mud Bay rural residential zone as well as the purpose and intent of that code.” Assembly member Stephanie […]
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Question for Haines: Is the Freeride over?
The Freeride World Tour is losing its title sponsor next year, and the tighter budget could put the Haines stop in jeopardy. Freeride World Tour general manager Julien Hess said Swatch will no longer be the competition’s title sponsor, causing a significant loss of funding for the tour of extreme ski destinations. “Regarding Swatch, the […]
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Snow, athletes converge for ‘Freeride’
Eight inches of snow fell Sunday and Monday. Next come the skiers. Twenty-eight professional skiers and snowboarders will shred powder during the Haines stop of the 2017 Swatch Freeride World Tour, though rumors are swirling that the event here is near its end. Twelve male and six female skiiers, and six male and four female […]
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Official wears ‘shut up’ T-shirt to public hearing
A planning commissioner’s choice of a T-shirt to wear at last week’s meeting of the group rankled some citizens and at least one fellow commissioner. Turner wore a shirt showing a smiley face with its mouth duct-taped over and the words, “I like the sound you make when you shut up.” About 10 citizens attended […]
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Executive sessions close door on public
In the past month, the Haines Borough Assembly and its committees have met four times in closed-door sessions. According to a public notice, the assembly’s Personnel Committee may go into another executive session Friday to discuss interim manager applications, bringing that number to five. Some assembly members have questioned the practice or expressed concern about the lack […]
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Planners pan noise study; reject idea of noise ordinance
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week blasted a $41,300 noise study authorized by the assembly, calling the study “fundamentally flawed” and “a total joke.” The assembly recently sent the noise study to the commission and asked the body to hold a public hearing on whether the municipality should regulate the use of helicopters for the purpose […]
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Helipad permit sought at 35 Mile
The manager of Coastal Helicopters has filed for a conditional use permit to site a helipad near 35 Mile Old Haines Highway. Michael Wilson, general manager of Coastal Helicopters, plans to site the helipad on a 10.4-acre parcel of property. In the permit application, Wilson wrote the helipad “will allow the Alaska Heliskiing operation to […]