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 […]
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Tour operator proposes heliport at 24 Mile
The borough’s largest tour operator has proposed building a helicopter port at 24 Mile Haines Highway to expand heliskiing operations and improve access to the mountains in case of ski-related emergencies. But the proposal — by Sean Gaffney’s company Chilkat River Adventures — has raised concerns from some upper valley residents wary of noise and the potential effects of […]
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Planning commission approves Constantine heliport permits
On Thursday, Feb. 13 the Haines Borough Planning Commission approved conditional use permits for two Constantine mine heliports that are currently in operation. “The heliports are already constructed and in use. We are looking for permission to operate them as they are,” Liz Cornejo, Constantine’s Vice President of Community and External Affairs, said. Cornejo explained that the […]
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Commission to decide on considering heliport permit
The Haines Borough Planning Commission will need to decide whether or not they should consider a conditional use permit (CUP) application for a heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway at its Nov. 14 meeting based on a legal doctrine cited by opponents of the proposed heliport. Scott Sundberg, owner of Big Salmon Ventures, has four times in the last 10 […]
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Heliport re-application in the works
Borough planning commissioners Thursday delayed voting on a tour operator’s eight-year push for a permit to construct a commercial heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway, opting to first consult with the borough attorney. The application, brought forward by Big Salmon Ventures co-owner Scott Sundberg, has been repeatedly denied by both the planning commission and borough assembly since […]
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Court rejects heliport appeal
A Juneau Superior Court Judge ruled against a bid to operate a heliport on Chilkat Lake Road, the latest twist in years-long attempt by a Haines outdoor recreation company to land helicopters at 26 Mile. Judge Phillip Pallenberg’s Dec. 6 decision upheld the Haines Planning Commission’s denial of a heliport permit requested by Scott Sundberg, the owner of Big […]
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Legal fees mount in heliport lawsuit
The Haines Borough has spent more than $13,000 to date defending itself in a lawsuit filed by a sister company of Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures over the municipality’s denial of a heliport at 26 Mile. Big Salmon Ventures, sister company of SEABA, filed the suit Dec. 29, appealing the assembly’s decision not to re-hear arguments for siting a heliport near 26 Mile […]
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Heliport OK’d for year-round use
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week approved unlimited, year-round use of a 35 Mile Haines Highway heliport, though the owners will not be allowed to use the site for commercial tours outside of the heli-skiing season without an additional permit. The commission voted 6-1 to approve the three-year conditional use permit submitted by Mike Wilson, manager of […]
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No unlimited use for heliport
The Haines Borough Planning Commission narrowly decided March 10 to deny a landowner’s request for unlimited use of a heliport near 35 Mile Haines Highway, stating that minimal historical use doesn’t entitle the owner to land as many helicopters as he wants on the property year-round. The commission split 4-3 in the vote to uphold the decision by former […]
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Planners OK heliport at 35 mile
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week approved a heliport near 35 Mile Old Haines Highway to be used for winter heli-skiing, but the applicant is pushing for unlimited, year-round use. Mike Wilson, general manager of Coastal Helicopters, co-owns the 35 Mile property with Alaska Heliskiing owner Sean Brownell. The two have been pursuing the conditional use permit since […]