Agenda - Council - 06/08/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chairperson Nixt askcd if this wo~dd prohibit landing or construction of a heliport where the complaints are taking place. Community l)cvel(~pment Director i:rol ik stated it would, because that lot is one acre or less. Public Input Jeff Ilammidgc, 148th Avcnttc NY/ stated he is the owner and pilot of the helicopter being discussed. He indicated there are ,~etlands behind his home, so he has more than 10 acres to come over when hc lands, lie stat,:d he has been approached by the FAA, who has deemed it safe. lie comment,.xt he only lands ~here approximately 10 to 12 times a year, and does not come in al night, fie stated he always app~'oaches over the wetlands. Mr. t lammidgc advised that a snowi~lower is two to three times the decibel rating of a helicopter, and runs for hotu's. |Jo stated the }AA saw this as a safe zone in regard to the wetlands behind his properly. I lc indicated he is ag~dnst the ordinance, and would even be willing not to land at his heine anymore, but he thinks ~o take away that right from others because of his envious neighbor is unreasonable. Commissioner lh'aucr asked what p~trpose the landings have. Mr. l lammidgc stated he uses the hdicopter for work, and travels to all his job sites, doing a lot o1' acrial phott)graphy. He indicated il' he is in the area he may go home rather than go to the airport and drive for twenty mim~te;, but he never keeps the helicopter there over night or lands at night. }lc stated lac lands at a l~)t o~'job sites, and this ordinance would set a precedent for other areas lhat w()~dd prohibit his vork. Commissioner Shcghcrd stated the,: arc talking about having to have a parcel of a certain size, and asked il' Mr, I lammfidge was sa?:ing, that because of the wetlands he does not need that much land. Mr. f lammidgc stated ten acres is c,:cessive. He indicated hospitals land on a 100-foot by 100- foot pad. l lc slated some of this is misconceptions. People believe that if you lose the engine you turn into a ball of flame,, which ,s n,¢t the case. Chairperson N ixt stated he questio~'~s 1,1~e ten acre size limit. He understands the concern of the City Council and Stat'f, but agrees ten acres is excessive. He indicated if there was a commercial site less than 10 acres they could not get a heliport pad. He stated he thinks they should prohibit residential areas unless the site meets the ten acres, and deal with limits in commercial areas separately. [lc commented hcur, derstands the helicopter can come in safely, however he believes in a residential area it is ir~compatible. He stated he does not know if they could limit thc number of landings, hours, etc. t,~ provide another alternative. Piann ing Commission/May 6, 2004 Page 14 of 22