Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - February 11, 2026
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - February 11, 2026
The Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission met on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Council Chambers. The primary agenda item was a public hearing and deliberation on Conditional Use Permit 25-03 (CUP 25-03) submitted by Pulseline Adventures, LLC to establish a helipad at a location on state land near Mile 11.5 of the Richardson Highway. After extensive public testimony and commission discussion, the motion to approve with conditions failed 2-4, resulting in denial of the permit.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bill Gibson (Director of Ground Operations, Pulseline Adventures): Addressed concerns from a letter received from a concerned member of the public. He explained the primary reason for the site is safety—halving the distance to refuel for operations in the Browns Creek area. He estimated the helipad would be used 6–10 times per season. He addressed noise (Airbus A Star helicopter, faint at 0.4 miles), environmental safeguards (double-walled fuel trailer, spill kit, never refueling at the site), and stated that the site would always be attended. He emphasized that the flight path avoids residences and that they work well with other public land users.
- Matthew Brunton (representing Chugach Mountain Institute): Urged denial of the permit. He stated that expanding heli infrastructure worsens documented conflicts with human-powered users, including video evidence of helicopters overflying ski tours in avalanche terrain. He argued that safety margins are removed for non-motorized users, that the permit would displace quiet recreation, and that the State of Alaska has no regulations for heli-skiing on these state lands. He called for limits, accountability, and recognition that the landscape is overburdened.
- Scott Carruthers (Valdez resident since 1998): Opposed the permit, citing his property is 0.4 miles from the site and within 1,500 feet. He noted the area is used for dog walking, snow machining, and is critical habitat for mountain goats and golden eagles. He argued the site violates rural residential zoning intended to maintain quiet and discourage commercial noise. He referenced a prior denial of a heli operation at Swan Pond and questioned the applicant's property ownership.
- Jessica Tran (elementary school teacher, representing Chugach Mountain Institute Foundation): Opposed the permit, citing equity and sustainability concerns. She stated that heli-skiing serves a small, affluent group while impacts (noise, safety risk, displacement) are borne by others. She argued that approving infrastructure locks Valdez into a high-impact model, and each approval sets a precedent that makes future denials harder. She urged denial to protect quieter, safer, and more inclusive uses of public land.
Discussion Items
- Commissioner Discussion on CUP 25-03: Commissioner Raditic made a motion to approve the permit as presented, seconded by Commissioner Moulton. Discussion followed regarding:
- Location suitability: Commissioners noted the site is near the only groomed trail for local residents (used by skiers, snowshoers, dog walkers, fat bikers) and is also within 0.4 miles of a resident's property. Commissioner Wade expressed concern about the trailhead intersection.
- Safety vs. convenience: Commissioner Goodrow stated the main reason for the site is to save money, not safety, and that applicants already have fueling at the airport and Blueberry Lake.
- Conditions considered: The commission discussed and voted on several amendments, all of which passed:
- Restroom facility: Motion to add condition requiring a restroom (blue room) at the site. Passed 5-1 (Commissioner Goodrow nay).
- Time limit and use cap: Motion to limit permit to one year and a maximum of ten days of use within that year. Passed 5-1 (Commissioner Goodrow nay).
- Findings amendment: Motion to change staff's findings to reflect that there IS pedestrian impact (contrary to original findings that there was not). Passed 6-0 (Commissioner Metroca absent).
- Final vote on amended motion: Motion to approve CUP 25-03 with the added conditions and amended findings. The vote was 2-4 (Ayes: Commissioner Raditic and Commissioner Fagerberg; Nays: Commissioner Moulton, Commissioner Wade, Commissioner Goodrow, and one other—Commissioner?—; absent: Commissioner Metroca). Motion failed.
- Clarification on denial findings: The commission agreed that the denial is based on criteria 4G and 7B/D (pedestrian/user conflicts), as discussed during the meeting.
- Community Development Director’s Report: Director announced the housing needs assessment report is available online. The Title 16 subdivision code revision draft will be released for public comment at the end of the week, with a future public hearing before the commission.
Key Outcomes
- CUP 25-03 Denied: The conditional use permit for a helipad proposed by Pulseline Adventures was denied after a motion to approve with conditions failed 2-4. The denial is based on findings of conflicts with pedestrians, cyclists, snow machiners, and other users, as specified in criteria 4 and 7 of Title 17.
- Conditions (not applied): Although not adopted, the commission had proposed conditions including a restroom, a one-year permit term, and a limit of ten days of use.
- Next Steps for Applicant: Commissioners encouraged the applicant to work with city staff and potentially seek an alternative location for future consideration.
- Upcoming Code Revision: The subdivision code revision (Title 16) will be released for public comment shortly; the commission will hold a future public hearing before making a recommendation to City Council.
- Meeting adjourned after commission business from the floor and appreciation for the discussion.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to open this meeting of the Valdez Planning and Zoning Commission for Wednesday, February 11th. Let the record show that all commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Matroca. And we have Commissioners Goodrew and Wade on the phone. We have no minutes this week. So public business from the floor. Did anyone come to address us on a non-agenda item? All right. Seeing none, we'll go right straight to the public hearing. This is for a conditional use permit 2503, an application from Pulse Line Adventures LLC for conditional use permit for a helipad. Did anyone want to address us on this? Right, please come to the mic and state your name for the record. Is the light on? Press the button, and when it's red, then you're my name is Bill Gibson. I'm the uh director of ground operations for Pulse Line Adventure. I wanted to address, I got the letter uh for the concerned member of the public today, and the concerns are valid. I also think they're a little bit of education will help clear things up on these. Um the the reason we want that area is on days where the weather doesn't permit us to fly in our prime locations. We try to go, one of the best zones we can go to is southeast of Valdez up Browns Creek and back that way. Um main reasons we would like that site to fuel is first and foremost safety. If there is an incident in the field that cuts the distance to fuel by half from in the back of Browns Creek and that area, and so being able to get the helicopter to that spot, refuel if we need other aircraft to assist in a rescue, that site is open to fuel. It just cuts it in half, which is quite a bit. And then selfishly from the business standpoint, helicopters are really expensive to fly, and so on fuel runs, having that would cut that distance in half. And so it saves on fuel, it is more efficient for our guests' money, and ultimately we can we give a better product with that. Um, primary fueling site is the airport and blueberry lake road up on the pass. Blueberry Lake Road gives us access to the Forest Service and the rest of our terrain. So on days where weather permits, that's where we'd like to be. And then on days where we're really chasing blue holes around, we don't leave the airport, we stay there. We estimate that we would use this space maybe six times, six to ten times during our season. Um to get to the letter, uh, there were some concerns that were brought up. First being the noise pollution. Uh, we use the Airbus A Star. Um that aircraft can be heard depending on the the air and obstructions from two to three miles. We'll hear this faint putter. Um as the the citizen noted, they're 0.4 miles from that site. Maritime's air uh hangar at the airport to the terminal is also 0.4 miles. And when they fire up their aircraft, it is a faint putter. You can tell that they're going, but it in my opinion, it's not a noise pollution thing. Also, being on the highway, there's traffic, uh like the oil trucks and everything. It would be my guess is that would be equal to or less than that noise. Our flight path when we leave the airport, if we're flying out to that direction, our flight path, by the time we reach that area, we're gonna be at at least 3,000 feet. So, and that's an acceptable range. Like again, you can tell that aircraft is there, but it's not a noise pollution thing. When we come into fuel, we're coming in from the southeast. And so when we're flying low to land, we won't be flying over any residences. We'll be coming in over the river and landing. The only noise pollution that we could have is if there are people out there recreating. Um there will never be that fuel site will never be unattended. It'll either be attended by me or somebody that I've trained, and we train on how to deal with how to work with public when we're out there. Same thing with Blueberry Lake Road. It is we have a permit to fuel, but we don't have exclusive use for that.
openpublica.com