City Refers Helipad Ordinance to Planning Board

Andrew Gottesman came before council Tuesday night during the public comments section to request council consider an ordinance to restrict the placement of helipads in the city.

This move comes at the same time the zoning board is hearing an application by Overlook Hospital to put a helipad at the hospital.

The Oak Ridge Avenue resident, along with his neighbor Kelly Deere, sent council this draft ordinance last week.

The ordinance, drafted by Peter Steck, who Gottesman says is a “planning expert,” would define a helipad as the city’s current zoning code does not mention the term, and would amend Article 4 “Conditional Uses” to permit helipads only “in zones that do not allow residential use.”

“No helipad shall be located within 800 feet of a building used for residential purposes,” the ordinance also reads. “Measurement shall be made at grade and horizontally to the nearest part of the helipad facility or area.”

“This is part of your legislative responsibility as our elected leaders,” Gottesman said. “Summit’s zoning ordinance does not contain the word helipad. That’s a gap that needs to be addressed.”

Council Dave Bomgaars said this ordinance has been passed to the planning board for consideration. The planning board meets Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

“We believe these rules are (sic) reasonable for a town like Summit given its history and reputation as a suburban enclave with an exceptional high quality of life,” Gottesman said.

Gottesman also said that while he fully expects the zoning board to find the site in question “unacceptable” for such a use, he feels this discussion more appropriately lies with council.

“This issue is both important and new to Summit,” he said.

Councilman Michael Vernotico said he felt the ordinance was  an excellent idea.

“The time is long overdue,” he said, adding he’s always been troubled by helicopters landing at Memorial and Tatlock Fields.

While there is a chance the planning board could discuss this ordinance at next week’s meeting, Beth Kinney, director of the Department of Community Services,  said the city needs to move forward cautiously on any such ordiance.

“There are a lot of potential legal repercussions,” she said. “So we need to be very careful.”

Overlook Hospital attorney Bart Sheehan did not return phonecalls for comment at press time.