'Signing Up' to Oppose the Helipad

Residents near Overlook Hospital have taken their opposition to the proposed helipad to another level.  Instead of just attending zoning board meetings and voicing their opinions, many have started a campaign using lawn signs to get the attention of local lawmakers.

"We wanted to get word out to educate the community," said Tom Graham, a local resident. "Someone came up with the idea for the signs."

Fred Stewart, another resident who lives near Overlook Hospital, said the signs give people who normally don't have the time to attend zoning board meetings or other events a way to voice their opinions and stay involved.

"People have busy lives, they can't go to every meeting," he said. "That doesn't mean they're not concerned."

The signs were first seen in front of a few houses, and soon spread to neighboring streets around Overlook Hospital. Graham said that the group's main focus was to educate people about the negative attributes of the proposed addition by knocking on doors and talking to people, using the sign as a way to get more people involved.

"What we want to do is educate people," he said. "Let people who don't know about the issue see it. Maybe if they see these signs it will stimulate them to find out more about it."

Graham and Stewart both stressed that no one in the group is against helping victims that may need the use of a helicopter in a medical emergency, but some believe that flying in the residential area creates a safety issue for the neighbors.

"Safety and noise are two primary issues," he said.

 "If this would have to emergency land here, where? There's no place you can set down," added Stewart.

Stewart is also concerned with declining property values and the quality of life for neighbors that would be exposed to a high level of noise.

"When they bought into Summit they didn't buy into living in an airport," he said of local families.

The opposition also firmly believes that there is little need for a helipad in Summit when there is an established program just miles away in Morristown.

 "Not one person is opposed to helping people," he said. "Everybody believes that they could have established the program with an existing helipad in Morristown, not at the expense of the safety."

What began as a way to support the opposition has become a grassroots effort that has ultimately brought the community together for a cause. Out of 100 signs initially bought, 85 were out on front lawns in three days. Soon another order was put in–this time for 200 signs.

"The inventory that we bought, once this thing started going, people would see a sign, ask and got on the phone for one for their house," Graham said. "People from all walks of the neighborhood, working class and wealthy people (are participating)," Graham said. "The community won't let themselves be pushed down."

"You can't help but feel good," Stewart said.