Trident obtains approval to build new bunkhouse

Officials from Trident Seafoods have received a conditional use permit request for the construction of a new bunkhouse.

The company received the permit by a 5-0 vote of the borough planning and zoning commission Jan. 9. They also received a 5-0 vote on a variance permit for off-street parking at the same location, near the intersection of Case and Front streets.

The facility will house between 40 and 80 people at a time.

Trident officials hope to conclude construction on the new bunkhouse June 1, in time for the majority of summer salmon season, said Trident Corporate Communications Officer John Van Amerongen.

Planning for the new house has been in the works for a year, Van Amerongen added.

“We’ve been expanding our fish processing capabilities at Wrangell in recent years,” he said in an email. “The increased housing capacity will allow us to accommodate more workers to fully utilize our increased production capabilities and better serve SE fishermen.”

While the bunkhouse is targeted at housing seasonal workers already on the Seattle-based Trident’s existing payroll, the construction could boost employment with local construction contractors, who will be hired to construct it according to Van Amerongen.

In other business, the board voted 4-0 to approve a zoning change from Waterfront Development to Rural Residential for portions of lots owned by Mark and Margaret Mitchell. Mark Mitchell, a commissioner, did not vote on the zone change.

The commission also voted 5-0 to recommend requests by Dave Svendsen and William Bloom to purchase portions of the tidelands.

The ports commission had approved Svendsen’s request Jan. 7, and that request will now move to the borough assembly for final approval.

Bloom’s request will move from the planning and zoning commission to the ports commission before going to the borough assembly for final approval.