The Petersburg Borough Assembly tonight will look at an appeal from a tribal government that wants to subdivide a property in order to build a communications tower.
Tidal Network, the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribe of Alaska’s broadband company, has plans to build three communications towers in Petersburg. One is already erected on Mill Road, and a spokesperson for the tribe confirmed construction for a second has begun at Papkes Landing. The project is controversial: for the last year, residents have testified about their concerns with new towers in town.
In June, the Assembly agreed to sell a small piece of borough-owned land near the town’s fire hall to Tidal Network for the third tower location. The property is part of a much larger borough-owned lot.
In order for Tidal Network to buy that portion of the lot, the larger parcel must be subdivided. In July, Tlingit & Haida submitted a minor subdivision request to Petersburg’s Planning Commission, which failed with no second. In other words, there wasn’t support to move forward with that step in the commission. Tlingit & Haida appealed the decision.
That issue now goes to the Assembly, acting in its role as the Board of Adjustment. The Assembly will meet tonight at 5:30 to discuss the appeal, right before its scheduled regular meeting at 6:00.
During that meeting, the Assembly is expected to decide whether to establish nepotism standards for elected officials, create a service area in Thomas Bay, and update the borough code’s language about Cabin Creek Road use and utility extension requirements. Each ordinance has been previously approved by the Assembly.
The Assembly meets tonight at 6:00 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers. KFSK will broadcast the meeting live.
You can find the full agenda here.
