The Haines Borough Assembly voted 5-1 on Tuesday to uphold a planning commission decision denying Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures a permit to use its 26 Mile property as a heliport. In a split 3-3 vote in January, the borough planning commission rejected a conditional use permit for a heliport at .6 Mile Chilkat Lake Road. SEABA appealed the decision to the assembly […]
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Permit for 26 Mile heliport struck down
The Haines Borough Planning Commission last week in a 3-3 vote denied a company’s request for a permit to use a 26 Mile heliport for commercial helicopter skiing. Commissioners Andy Hedden, Roger Maynard and Donnie Turner on Jan. 19 supported the conditional use permit for Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA). Rob Goldberg, Danny Gonce and Lee Heinmiller were opposed, […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Public meeting on heliport scheduled
Please come to the Jan. 19 public hearing on SEABA’s application to create an additional heliport for their commerical (heli-)ski tours. The property SEABA wishes to use as a heliport is within an area at 26-mile that is currently being proposed to be rezoned as rural residential. The rezoning application, on file with the borough, is valid and was submitted with […]
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Borough: Heliport would violate permit
The Haines Borough will send a letter to Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures informing them that use of a heliport at 26 Mile for commercial helicopter skiing is a violation of the company’s tour permit that could result in revocation. Mayor Stephanie Scott said the letter has been approved by the borough’s attorney. “We intend to hold the line. The terms of […]
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SEABA plans use of 26 Mile heliport
Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures is going ahead with plans to use a 26 Mile Haines Highway site as a heliport, relying on a section of Haines Borough code the company says exempts it from acquiring a conditional use permit to stage heli-skiing tours from the site, according to Mayor Stephanie Scott. Scott said SEABA co-owner Scott Sundberg told her Tuesday that SEABA notified borough […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
Rezoning for heliports not solution
Many of us are disgusted with what went on at the recent Borough Assembly meeting. There’s a certain group in this town who feel they know what’s best for everyone, and don’t care about the laws and rules they violate. We’re dealing with the same scenario in the Chilkat Lake Road area. The proponent of the rezoning […]
Posted inNews
Neighbors: Heliports not welcome at 26 Mile
Some residents at 26 Mile Haines Highway want their area rezoned like the Mud Bay planning and zoning district, which now specifically prohibits heliports. Helicopter skiing tour provider Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) has shown repeated interest in establishing a heliport at .6 Mile Chilkat Lake Road. As of this week, resident Jessica Plachta said she has […]
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Battle brewing over heliport; Residents seek zoning change; operator silent
Residents at 26 Mile say they’ll push for rezoning to keep a heliport out of their neighborhood, despite a suggestion voiced at last week’s Haines Borough Planning Commission meeting that a loophole in code may effectively thwart their intent. Heli-ski company Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures has sought a heliport there, off-and-on, for several years, in the face of strong opposition by […]
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SEABA seeks planners’ OK of heliport at 26 Mile
Members of the Haines Borough Planning Commission on Thursday were slated to consider a conditional use permit for a 26 Mile Haines Highway heliport that would serve helicopter skiing tours, but the applicants withdrew their request. Borough clerk Julie Cozzi said applicants had withdrawn their conditional use permit request, but “they plan to bring it back.” The next planning […]
Posted inLetters to the Editor
SEABA, the heliport answer is still ‘no’
Two years ago, many residents at 26 Mile signed a petition stating that we don’t want a heliport in our neighborhood. SEABA, you followed with a commentary stating you would let the idea go because the majority of residents didn’t want it. Now, here we go again! A new petition is in the works. Nick Trimble says that if […]