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Haines Borough planning commission sets priorities from Comprehensive Plan 2030
Summary
At a December workshop the Haines Borough Planning Commission agreed to prioritize hazard mitigation, zoning‑code alignment with the Comprehensive Plan, recreation access and trails, transportation coordination, and affordable‑housing planning, and to request staff support and target dates for reviews and liaison appointments.
The Haines Borough Planning Commission met in workshop format to translate the Comprehensive Plan 2030 into a short list of priorities and implementation tasks, focusing on hazard mitigation, zoning‑code alignment, recreation access, transportation and housing.
The commission chair opened the meeting by noting the plan’s digital and hard‑copy availability and asked members to focus on timelines and sub‑leadership for implementation. Commissioners identified hazard mitigation and landslide monitoring as a top priority and asked staff to form a small working group to draft code language, integrate maps and research, and participate annually in the regional landslide partnership. Speaker 1 asked Nathaniel and Derek to participate in that group.
Members also emphasized the need to review Title 18 (land‑use/zoning) for discrepancies with the new land‑use map and conservation goals. Speaker 3 recommended updating zoning standards so rules match the comprehensive plan; the commission tentatively set May 1 as a target for an initial review of discrepancies and directed staff to prepare materials to guide that review.
Recreation access and trails featured repeatedly: commissioners proposed designating a planning‑commission liaison to the Parks & Recreation (PRAC) committee by January 1 to coordinate trail planning and trail maintenance recommendations with the comprehensive plan’s recreation section. Members discussed making nonmotorized access part of transportation planning and pairing trails with potential borough‑owned lands.
Transportation priorities included participation in regional coordinated‑transportation meetings and advancing nonmotorized and shuttle options within the borough. The commission agreed to participate in upcoming regional open‑house meetings and to contribute research on a local shuttle or other connectivity options.
On housing and land use, the commission asked staff to provide a map of borough properties and to identify parcel status (platted/surveyed) so members can prioritize sites for affordable housing and potential borough‑to‑owner financing models. The body discussed land sales as a tool to seed affordable‑housing projects and agreed to recommend priorities once staff supplies the property inventory.
The chair said she would draft the committee’s commitments, compare notes with staff, and include the material in the upcoming planning commission packet for public review and comment.
