Assembly approves addendum with Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority to expand utilities and lots in Airport Addition

The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously approved Addendum No. 1 on April 7 to a previously authorized Real Property Improvement and Conveyance Agreement with the Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA). Under the original January 6, 2025 agreement, THRHA would construct roads and utilities to 11 lots in the Airport Addition subdivision in exchange for ownership of seven of those lots. The addendum expands the work to 22 lots: THRHA will provide improvements to 22 lots, will own 13 of them, and the borough will retain nine lots.

The manager and staff told the Assembly they expect the utility work to be phased and that immediate system capacity is not expected to be overwhelmed because development will be incremental. Manager Giesbrecht said pump station upgrades may be required if all lots are developed within a short time frame, and the borough would factor pump station capacity upgrades into lot sale proceeds or the property development fund when lots are sold.

Members asked about emergency access and secondary roads. The manager responded that the borough has no current budget for building a new access road (estimated cost at least $500,000) and encouraged coordination among THRHA, the Petersburg Indian Association and the hospital — each of which has considered secondary access in their planning — to seek a solution that could be incorporated into broader work.

The motion to approve Addendum No. 1 passed on roll call, 6–0.

Ending: The Assembly authorized the addendum and directed staff to continue coordination on utilities and secondary access planning.