Residents Oppose Overlook Heliport

Concern that a proposed heliport at Overlook Hospital would mean house-rattling noise, lower property values, and the potential for a disastrous crash brought residents of homes near Overlook Hospital to Monday’s zoning board meeting in another show of opposition to the plan.

The heliport has been the buzz of summer block parties in the area, as well as the subject of circulating emails, an online petition, and printed fliers dropped door-to-door. Residents packed the room at two previous hearings, and at least 70 attended Monday’s meeting.

The proposal would add three stories plus a helicopter landing pad to the 11-story “C wing” at Overlook. The hospital says the heliport is necessary to hasten the transport of stroke patients in need of time-sensitive, specialized care at its Neuroscience Center, and that such flights could be conducted safely with limited noise and disruption to neighboring areas.  

The zoning board will not hear formal public comment on the proposal until the hospital has finished presenting all of its testimony in the case. Many opponents of the plan said that until then, they hope their presence at several hours-long hearings signals their objection to members of the zoning board.

A small group of homeowners has gone further, retaining an attorney to represent them at the hearings—a move sets the stage for an appeal should the zoning board approve the hospital’s application.

“I think it’s a totally inappropriate site for a heliport,” Andy Gottesman, of Oak Ridge Avenue, said in an interview prior to the meeting. He and three neighbors retained have attorney Michael Kates of Kates Nussman Rapone Ellis & Farhi in Hackensack. “It’s a suburban neighborhood. From a safety, property value, quality of life standpoint…this is a big encroachment.”

In interviews, other residents outlined their antipathy to the heliport. Some said they were initially open to the proposal, but that in learning further details, changed their minds.  

“My first reaction was, I know that could cause some disruption, but if it’s saving lives, it could be good,” said Susan Grates, of Oak Ridge Avenue. “But when you look into it, you see that it’s just a duplication of services, which is what’s driving up healthcare costs in our nation. I’ve gone to all the meetings, and it seems that the doctors admit they’ve gotten everyone there safely anyway.”

More than 120 people, most residents of homes near the hospital, have signed an online petition opposing the heliport (see link below). Many cited safety as their primary concern.

“The flight path is over a dense residential area and a crash would be devastating,” wrote Sharon Gala, of Van Dyke Place.

Pia Mueller, of Linden Place, is another petitioner.   

“If it were something that Summit residents could profit from, or that would save lives, maybe I would spend a little bit more time to think about it,” she said this week. “But when I heard Overlook Hospital is not a trauma center, my question is why would they need it? Maybe somewhere in the future that might make a difference for one or two patients, but I don’t think that outweighs all the negative effects.”

She and others noted that planes headed for Newark airport follow a flight path over the neighborhoods near the hospital that already brings unwanted noise.

Amaro Guzman, of William Street, who attended Monday’s meeting with his 9-year-old son, said he worried the heliport would usher in more noise and evaporate his privacy.

“That’s very important to me because I live exactly behind Overlook,” he said. “Some people that I know don’t care, because they rent, but I own. When you own, you have to stay—you can’t move easily.”

Gottesman expressed skepticism that the hospital would limit use of the heliport to the transport of five to nine stroke victims per month, as an Overlook doctor had testified at a previous hearing.

“I don’t believe that,” he said. “They will use it.”

David Fowkes, also of Oak Ridge Avenue, said he had similar doubts.

“They say five a month; I say two a day within 20 to 30 years,” Fowkes said. “It’s bragging rights, and it’s a way to bring in money to the hospital.  If I thought for a minute this was a life-saving thing, I’d come at this differently.”