Did they consider our voices?
Share
TweetI’m writing today to respond to the heliport CUP awarded to applicant Campbell at 26-mile Chilkat Lake Road, because I didn’t think any of our letters of opposition were read.
This is how it’s done here — do it first and get permits later. Now it looks like the applicant is going to change the zoning the same way to Heavy Industrial. All with the help of the Planning Commission and Town Manager. These people should ask themselves: Would I want this in my neighborhood? You have betrayed an entire neighborhood to accommodate your friend.
It is disgusting and embarrassing to watch the Planning Commission and Town Manager fall over themselves to help the applicant achieve his dream. Hopefully, a judge will reverse this mess. The Borough should pray there is never a bad accident out here, the lawsuits will bankrupt Haines.
A lot of us wonder what kind of person comes into someone else’s neighborhood and does this? And what kind of officials help him? More reason to vote on June 6, 2023, in favor of electing our Planning Commissioners.
Peter Paquet
The Haines Borough Planning Commission’s recent granting of a one-year conditional use heliport permit on Chilkat Lake Road was a real head scratcher. It ignored precedent (including a denial of such a permit several years ago, on nearby property--a decision upheld all the way to the Alaska Superior Court); and Haines Borough established procedures and law. In doing so, the Planning Commission has exposed the Haines Borough to impending civil litigation by residents of this long-established, resoundingly residential neighborhood, which the Borough is more than likely to lose, perhaps with damages attached for violation of said laws and practices, at significant taxpayer expense. Sorry, folks, you can’t just wave your hand and change established, undeniable facts. That may work in conversations, dreams, or at a meeting, but not in court. A heliport doesn’t belong here, any more than it did last time. The heavy industrial narrative Mr. Campbell presents, and some planning commission members support, is self-created hogwash, rudely imposed on his peaceful and peace-loving neighbors. The fact is, he moved in after most of us and started making noise, some of it illegal and all of it unwelcome; then said, look, it’s noisy! Through the Borough appeals process, it’s not too late to reconsider, and save the taxpayers of the Haines Borough from wasting a big chunk of money, time and effort for nothing on a legal challenge it is more than likely to lose.
Sincerely,
Nick Jans
This week the CVN was flooded with more letters than I can recall ever being submitted. In order to save space, we grouped letters according to their subject matter under one headline.
-Kyle Clayton
