The Haines Planning Commission issued a conditional use permit for a rock quarry and gravel pit at two sites on Lutak [LOO-tac}  road. Some residents voiced concerns about rockslide potential and increased truck traffic, but a representative for Southeast Road Builders says the project will make the slope safer and reduce traffic. 

 

 

Southeast Road Builders started shipping gravel from their newly acquired property on Lutak road this summer. The company cleared land, created a ramp to allow trucks to reach a barge moored to the beach, and started digging into the hillside.

Southeast Road Builders is now proposing to start blasting the hillside on another nearby parcel, just above the ferry terminal. 

At its Monday meeting, the Planning Commission voted to issue the permit that will allow the work to move forward. Southeast Road Builders area manager TJ Mason came to the meeting to answer questions. 

Mason: “We just plan on supplying aggregates, and sand, gravel, to the community of Hianes  and the rest of Southeast Alaska by utilizing the deepwater port in the area.”

During the public comment period, a few residents came to voice some concerns.

Mayor-elect Tom Morphet told of a house-sized boulder rolling off that very hillside.

Morphet: “A giant boulder came off that slope about seven years ago, it was about 20’ by 20’ by 20’. It came down that slope, it bounced off the middle of Lutak road and wound up in the middle of the parking lot of the ferry terminal. Anybody who would have been down there when that boulder came down would have been pretty much flattened.”   

Incoming planning commissioner Rachel Saitzyk brought up a study of the area’s landslides during the 2020 storm event.

Saitzyk: “This area that is up for a conditional use permit had six [landslides] of varying sizes, I think there is one that slid some amount across the road. I would recommend waiting for a study or for more data.”

Patty Brown, another incoming planning commissioner, also said the borough should wait to issue a permit.

Brown: “According to DNR, the landslide hazard report is due out in August of 2024. The borough  should deny any permits for any development involving exposing 30% and steeper slope until then.”

Some commissioners also voiced concerns about the potential for landslides. But during the discussion, Mason with Southeast Road Builders, said blasting the hillside could make it safer.

Mason: “A lot of times, producing a quality rock cut is what’s done to mitigate rockfall hazards.” 

Mason described the work that would take place above the ferry terminal.

Mason: “The process for that area would be to clear and grub, which means remove the vegetation and organic mat, and then strip down to the bedrock, and then we’d drill and blast.

He also addressed comments about truck traffic. 

Mason: “Our current use for the site, we sell rock to Greens Creek mine, aggregates right now are being trucked from 4 miles. I think we have in the ballpark of four to six barges a year, over the course of an entire year it would be less than a thousand loads. Currently all of it is coming front the four mile pit. Whatever amount we could sell from those other areas would reduce that load through town.”

For traffic at the sites, Mason estimates there could be around 60 truck crossings per hour to take gravel across the road from one site. Mason says he doesn’t have figures for the other site, as the company is still working on the state Department of Transportation’s access permit.

The commissioners voted to issue the permit to Southeast Road Builders. They added some conditions. The work will have to stop within two hours of a ferry docking at the terminal, to avoid impeding passenger traffic. And the mitigation plan will have to be developed by an engineer. The permit will be valid for five years. 

This was the last vote of the current appointed planning commission. At the next meeting, seven newly elected commissioners will take their seats.