Community Meeting Summary

On Wednesday evening approximately 35 participants attended the first community meeting hosted at the Chilkat Center. The meeting was kicked off by Brad Ryan, Borough Public Facilities Director who gave an overview of the project.

Paul Cyr, Statewide Recreational Boating Access Program Coordinator for Alaska Department of Fish and Game, who is a partner in the project and primary funder of the project, then provided background information on the program.

Paul's presentation on the program can downloaded at the link below.

Statewide Recreation Boating Access Program Presentation

(Click link to download)

Brandon Ivanowicz, Project Engineer with PND Engineers presented the design parameters of the project and three concepts that were developed for the boat launch facility. The three concepts evaluated vehicular circulation, parking counts, integration of the Portage Cove park and trail and looked at long term master planning of the area. Conceptual construction costs were presented for the three options as well as the project schedule.

The entire presentation can be downloaded at the link below.

Community Meeting One Presentation

(Click link to download)

Following the presentation there was a brief question and answer period where the public asked the engineering and design team questions about concepts and provided input. Items of discussion focused on project costs, improving vehicular circulation, integration of the Portage Cove trail and park, addition and reduction of landscaping, paving and general layout of the boat launch parking. The community meeting was concluded at 8:00 pm.

Immediately following, a special meeting for the Borough Planning Commission was called to order. The Commission asked for further questions from the public and for input on the preferred concept. The consensus from the public was that Option One was the desired conceptual layout with some minor modifications. Desired modifications included looking at different sized parking stalls, minor vehicular circulation changes within the parking lot, exploring if landscaping could be added along Front Street, minor enhancements to the trail and park, considering snow removal, and verifying circulation around the ice house. After public input was provided, the Planning Commission also approved Option One as the preferred conceptual layout and asked for refinement of the layout based on issues discussed by the public and the Commission. 

The planning and engineering team over the coming weeks will update the preferred plan and present it and revised costs at the second community meeting to be announced in the coming weeks.

Community Meeting and Public Hearing No. 1

Wednesday, June 28, 2017
6:00 p.m. Community Meeting
8:00 p.m. Public Hearing
Chilkat Center Lobby

The public is invited to attend a community meeting and subsequent public hearing hosted by the Haines Borough, Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG) and PND Engineers, Inc. The purpose of the presentation is to deliver a project overview and conceptual options for improvements associated with the Portage Cove Harbor Boat Launch Improvements project and to gather public input, comments, and concerns on the planned development. The proposed improvements address recreational boating needs and include the construction of a modern, two-lane boat launch ramp with boarding float, trailer parking spaces, vehicle parking spaces, pedestrian access and park amenities at Portage Cove Harbor.

Following the community meeting, the Planning Commission will hold a special public hearing at 8:00 p.m. with members of the Port and Harbor Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. The public is encouraged to provide comments in relation to how the presented concepts best address the comprehensive plan and the capital improvements program. Public comments will be incorporated into the final recommendation that the Planning Commission makes to the Borough Assembly.

The agenda includes:

• Review of concept options and cost estimates 
• Review of ADF&G federal grant program guidelines 
• Review of project funding sources 
• Review of proposed project schedule 
• Comments, Questions and Answers