Visitors to Talkeetna will soon have the opportunity to view the town from a new vantage point…. 300 feet high in a yellow tethered balloon.
On May 20, the Mat-Su Borough issued a determination that the Big Dipper Balloon Company will be permitted to operate the balloon as a “temporary tall structure”, which is allowed under Borough code.
In early April, Big Dipper held a series of informational meetings for the Talkeetna community, during which, they unveiled their plans for the helium-filled balloon.
The community responded with mixed reactions. The balloon company plans to operate its business in East Talkeetna, which is a residential neighborhood. Questions of higher traffic and privacy were raised, prompting the Talkeetna Community Council to request that the Borough require a conditional use permit for the balloon.
A conditional use permit is the process where the public is allowed to comment and present its concerns to the Borough.
The Big Dipper Balloon Company responded by requesting, from the Borough, an exemption from the permit based on the “temporary tall structures” clause. The clause exempts prohibited structures which are on site for less than 180 days. The company states that the balloon will be on site less than 120 days.
The company has also stated that they do not intend to routinely place the structure on the East Talkeetna site. If the venture proves to be financially viable, Big Dipper will pursue the permitting and a more permanent location.
The company intends to install the balloon operation in June, and they have pledged to remove it by September 30th. The balloon will rise 300 feet in the air, hover for a few minutes, and then descend. It will operate during F.A.A. approved weather conditions, from 8 am to 8 pm.
