Haines approves fourth heliski tour operator, considers a ban on yurts in the townsite, and more from Tuesday’s assembly meeting

The Haines borough assembly approved a fourth heliski operator at their Tuesday meeting, authorized by a new ordinance passed last month lifting the limit on heliski permits for one year. The assembly also introduced a new plan to restrict construction of new yurts and container homes inside the townsite. KHNS’ Corinne Smith reports.

Haines is well-known for its backcountry skiing, and the heliski industry provides a lift to fresh snow and remote areas, only accessible by helicopter

Assemblymember Cheryl Stickler supports expanding the heliski industry, and reducing borough regulation She’s the Chair of the Government and Services Committee, which has been discussing and drafting changes to the borough code to allow for more heliski tour permits and expanding the industry. 

“It looks like all of the boxes were checked, all of the responses were made completely and fully,” Stickler said. “So I saw no reason on that point to deny this request. Secondly, because at the last meeting, we did approve a fourth operator. I think at this point, this is the logical next step to approve this application.”

The assembly passed an ordinance at their December 22 meeting lifting the limit on heliski tour permits in the borough for one year. Instead of allocating and tracking skier days, the borough decided to regulate helicopters per day. 

Assemblymembers Stickler and Caitie Kirby introduced the final version, which would allow more than three heliski permits with a maximum of six helicopters per day, and up to eight helicopters per day for additional usage, as approved by the borough manager.

The new ordinance allows each heliski tour operator no more than two helicopters per day. The borough charges a nonrefundable usage fee of $3000 for the first helicopter, and $5,000 for the second before January 15.

The issue has sparked heated debate. The borough first took up the issue when Stellar Adventure Travel’s owner, Reggie Crist applied for a fourth heliski tour permit, and was denied by the clerk because the code only allowed three. The assembly then decided to take a look at revising the borough code.

Opponents of expanding the heliski industry have criticized that action as preferential treatment, and cited overcrowding, as well as impacts on critical mountain goat habitat.  

Haines helicopter pilot Rihanna Brownell with Alaska Heliskiing says she’s concerned about safely adding more operators on the mountainside.

“If there is conflict with Stellar (Adventure Travel) or any of the other operators, I think this needs to be addressed before you approve a fourth operator,” Brownell said. “We need guidelines for reporting when we feel like an area is too crowded, because it looks like we’re gonna have a very busy season on our hands.”

Under the new ordinance, infractions are reported to and documented by the borough manager’s office. 

Supporters of a fourth heliski operator and expanding the industry cite dedicated, experienced guides and clients ready to ski in Haines. And it would be a boon to the winter economy, says new tour operator Reggie Crist.

“We just want to provide visitors with the best and safest skiing experiences. That’s always been our goal,” Crist said.

At the Tuesday meeting, Assemblymember Debra Schnabel tried to add a provision requiring  Stellar Adventure Travel to submit at the end of each month, a daily GPS logs of ski routes, landing zones, and flight paths used – something conservationists have asked for to better tracking heliskiing’s impacts. The borough voted it down, 4-2, with Assemblymembers Schnabel and Tyler Huling in favor.

The assembly also introduced an ordinance to restrict building new yurts, container homes and other alternative dwellings to outside the townsite. 

Currently yurts are permitted anywhere as long as it has a concrete foundation and is connected to proper facilities like electricity and plumbing. The new ordinance would confine permanent residence in shelters like yurts, tents, and container homes to five mostly rural zones – which make up acreage outside of the downtown Haines area (see Haines Zoning Map here).

That was in response to a recommendation from the Planning Commission which had received complaints from adjoining property owners who claimed they drive down values. Planning Commission Chair Diana Lapham spoke in favor of the proposal.

“It is definitely a compromise because it is in the rural residential, as well as the mixed rural zones, that yurts would be allowed. Any other zone and it would not be allowed,” Lapham said.

Existing yurts in the townsite would be grandfathered in.

The next public hearings for the ordinance are scheduled for January 25 and February 8.