Tidal Network’s application to subdivide a lot to build a telecommunications tower near the fire hall on Haugen Drive in Petersburg failed at the July 14 planning commission meeting, presenting another setback for the tribal-owned nonprofit to build up its wireless service in Southeast,

Last month, the Petersburg borough assembly approved the sale of a 10,036-square-foot lot carved out of a much larger borough-owned parcel on the road to the airport from downtown, where Tidal Network wanted to build a telecommunication tower. The contract was signed, but a subdivision was needed to complete the transfer.

Planning Commissioner Jim Floyd moved to approve the subdivision resolution at the July 14 meeting, but when no one seconded the motion Commission Chair Chris Fry said, “We have no second. OK, so motion fails.”

There was no public deliberation by the commissioners; all seven commissioners were present at the meeting.

The subdivision is a condition of the $45,000 borough land sale, which the assembly approved last month. Borough Manager Steve Giesbrecht and Tlingit and Haida Central Council President Richard Peterson signed the sales contract on June 23.

The tribal council owns Tidal Network, which received a federal grant four years ago to build out a wireless network for unserved and underserved areas across Southeast. It has put up one tower in Wrangell but a second site was rejected by the borough’s planning and zoning commission last year.

In August 2025, the Petersburg planning commission recommended the assembly approve the land sale to Tidal Network, but since then the makeup of the commission has changed as has its stance on the sale of the parcel. 

During the July 14 commission meeting, three residents spoke against the subdivision.

Nicole McMurren, who lives near the proposed tower site, objected to using public land to solve what she called a private-industry problem. She asked the commission to vote no.

Becky Knight raised concerns about safety and aesthetics. “I don’t want our community to look like a porcupine of cell phone towers,” she said.

Judy Ohmer, who said she has spoken at every assembly and planning commission meeting on towers since October, urged the commission to weigh the tower’s fall zone and the children walking past the site by a nearby childcare facility.

Tidal Network can appeal to the borough assembly.