Since appearing on the Haines Borough Planning Commission’s agenda in October, the issue of siting a heliport at 35 Mile Old Haines Highway has been postponed four times. Complicating the question is the change in tactics from Mike Wilson, who originally applied for the conditional use permit in October. Wilson, who manages Coastal Helicopters, owns the property with Alaska […]
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Posted inLetters to the Editor
More heliport permits is irresponsible
The 35 Mile heliport conditional use permit application has landed back in the planning commission’s lap despite the applicant’s efforts to subvert the process. The issue of commercial heliports on private property will continue to come up until it is addressed and properly dealt with by the borough. The borough’s comprehensive plan specifically states that the […]
Posted inNews
Company sues borough over heliport denial
A local company denied a conditional use permit to operate a heliport near 26 Mile is appealing the decision in state Superior Court. In a notice of appeal filed Dec. 29, attorneys for Big Salmon Ventures said the Haines Borough’s decision on the matter was “based on prejudice, arbitrary and capricious decision-making” and “on improper motives.” Big […]
Posted inNews
Applicant claims right to heliport
A property owner at 35 Mile Old Haines Highway says he doesn’t need a permit to site a heliport there because the property has been used to land helicopters since 2008 and should be grandfathered in. Michael Wilson, general manager of Coastal Helicopters, submitted a conditional use permit application for a heliport in September. Wilson and Alaska Heliskiing co-owner […]
Posted inNews
Heli-ski firms reject shared heliport idea
Haines Borough Planning Commission chair Rob Goldberg said he is dropping efforts to create a public heliport out Chilkat Lake Road because two out of three operators said they wouldn’t use the facility. At its Nov. 12 meeting, the commission unanimously passed a motion to have borough staff look into acquiring property for a public heliport between 25 Mile […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Heli-ski firms, cooperate on heliport site
There were a couple significant events that led to my moving to Haines from Fairbanks four-and-a-half years ago. Those events were preceded by my son saying, “Why don’t you move to Haines so I can visit you and snowboard at the same time?” When the heli-ski industry experiences a setback like the denial of Scott Sundberg’s heliport, I […]
Posted inNews
Assembly supports denial of heliport
It appears there will be more heli-skiing litigation on the Haines Borough’s horizon. Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures co-owner Scott Sundberg said he plans to either appeal to the Superior Court Tuesday’s assembly decision not to re-hear his case for siting a heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway, or file a lawsuit alleging his rights as a property […]
Posted inNews
Heliport appeal request Tuesday
Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures co-owner Scott Sundberg claims the Haines Borough Planning Commission erred in denying his permit application for a heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway for several reasons, including that there are several “biased” commissioners who shouldn’t have been allowed to vote. Sundberg is appealing the commission’s 4-2 decision to deny the permit to his other company, […]
Posted inNews
Deja vu for heliport proposal at 26 mile
Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures co-owner Scott Sundberg last week said he would appeal the Haines Borough Planning Commission’s rejection of a permit application for a heliport near 26 Mile Haines Highway. That decision sets the stage for yet another round in the company’s efforts to establish a heliport there, which date back to 2007. The commission, which spent nearly four hours […]
Posted inNews
Sundberg renews push for heliport
Helicopter ski tour operator Scott Sundberg has resumed his eight-year campaign to establish a heli-port near a residential subdivision at 26 Mile Haines Highway. Sundberg last week filed an application for a required conditional use permit with the Haines Borough. A public hearing in front of the borough’s Planning Commission is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, […]