Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Letnikov Dock topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and commissioners press for planning review as borough schedules Letnikov Dock town hall with cruise-line proposal
Summary
Public speakers opposed privatizing Letnikov Dock and raised traffic, wildlife and funding concerns. Borough officials announced a Jan. 8 town hall with American Cruise Lines; commissioners repeatedly urged that planning review and public-design considerations come before any funding contract.
Several public commenters and commissioners pressed the Hainesborough Planning Commission on December 18 over an emerging proposal for the Letnikov Dock, and borough officials announced a borough-sponsored town hall on Jan. 8 to field community questions about a potential public-private partnership with American Cruise Lines (ACL).
Brian O'Reilly, a commercial fisherman, told the commission he's opposed to privatizing the public dock at Letnikov Cove for a corporate enterprise. "I oppose privatizing our public dock in Litnikov Cove for a corporate enterprise," he said during the public-comment period. Online commenter Greg Podzicki raised multiple local concerns, saying he opposed the proposal "until I learn more" and warning it could compete with Lutak/Lutec dock funds and increase tourist traffic on Mudbay Road.
Assemblymember Cheryl Stikler and borough staff described the proposal as evolving. Stikler said ACL has since indicated a willingness to contribute substantially more than an earlier $2 million figure and that staff plan a town hall to gather input and questions. "We are having a town hall meeting on January 8 at 05:30PM here to talk to the public about this opportunity and whether it fits Haines or not," Stikler said. She also said the borough will provide ACL an opportunity to answer questions at that meeting.
Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that planning and design considerations should be resolved before the borough makes financial or contract decisions. Commissioner Derek (last name not specified in the transcript) and others said funding and contract choices carry planning and land-use implications: they asked that any significant change to dock use and design come to the planning commission for a formal recommendation before the assembly signs a funding or partnership agreement.
The manager (name not provided in the transcript) told the commission staff does not intend the town hall to "sell the community on anything," but to solicit community priorities and concerns and to hear what negotiation points residents want the borough to pursue. The town-hall notice and any subsequent design changes, the manager said, would be brought back to the planning commission if ACL requests design revisions.
Next steps: the borough will host the Jan. 8 town hall. Commissioners asked staff to ensure the planning commission has access to meeting materials and opportunities for review if the project moves into formal design or funding decisions.
