Overlook Denies Residents' Request For Representation in Appeal

Attorney Michael Kates requested that he defend against the appeal alongside Zoning Board of Adjustment attorney Dennis Galvin.

Atlantic Health has denied a request from Attorney Michael Kates to "intervene" on behalf of residents during the forthcoming appeal hearings regarding Overlook Hospital's application to build a helipad on the hospital's roof. "Based upon the belief that the legitimate interest of the public and the Board of Adjustment of the City of Summit are coordinate and that the public's interest will be most adequately represented through the Board of Adjustment's attorney, Dennis Galvin Esq., your request for the appealant's consent to intervention is denied," reads a letter from Overlook Hospital to Kates dated Feb. 23, 2011. Kates said he plans to file a motion this week appealing Atlantic Health's denial of intervention. "I don’t see how a judge…

•  8 Comments
• Photos (1)

Overlook Appeals Helipad Ruling

Could take months before case is before a judge.

Atlantic Health has formally filed an appeal with Union County Superior Court against the Zoning Board of Adjustment's denial of an application for variances to construct a helipad on the roof of Overlook Hospital. "Refusing to accept the overwhelming decision of the community it purports to be a part of, Overlook has filed an appeal to the helipad decision in Union County Court," reads an e-mail from a group of residents who opposed the helipad application. "Community members must stay engaged to make sure Overlook’s legal dollars don’t steamroll Summit." After more than 3,000 pages of transcripts and testimony from expert witnesses on everything from real estate values to acoustical impacts, on June 21 the Zoning Board of Adjustment …

•  7 Comments
• Photos (1)

Zoning Board Denies Helipad Application

Application denied in 6-1 vote after almost a year of testimony.

Just days shy of the one-year anniversary of the beginning of hearings on Overlook Hospital's application to build a helipad on the roof of the C-wing, the application was denied in a 6-1 vote Monday night. "We're very disappointed in the outcome," said Overlook Hospital President Alan Leiber by phone after the meeting, adding he could not comment on the possibility of an appeal to Union County Superior Court at this time. After more than 3,000 pages of transcripts and testimony from expert witnesses on everything from real estate values to acoustical impacts, the Zoning Board of Adjustment first concluded that the helipad application should not get favorable treatment just because the helipad was attached to a hospital. Under zoning law, …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (23)
• Videos (1)

Zoning Board Concludes Helipad Case

Board will cast vote on Overlook Hospital's application on June 21.

The Zoning Board held the final hearing on Overlook Hospital's application for variances in connection with building a helipad on the hospital's C-wing Monday night. In addition to a few final rebuttal witnesses on public safety and testimony from the last resident with legal representation, the main meeting highlight was the long-awaited public comments portion. However, the meeting dragged on into the wee hours of the morning, finally wrapping up just before 1 a.m. The good news: the board got through all of the public comments from residents who stuck around long enough to make it. The board will hear closing arguments, deliberate and vote on June 21. Here are the highlights from Monday night's meeting: Several residents testified about…

•  6 Comments
• Photos (4)
• Videos (1)

Lieber, Halperin Offer Historical Context to Helipad Project

In next installment with Hometowne Television. Overlook Hospital President Alan Lieber said hospital couldn't become a trauma center if it wanted to.

In the third installment with Hometowne Television on Overlook Hospital's application before the Summit Zoning Board of Adjustment, hospital President Alan Lieber and Medical Director of Neuroscience at Atlantic Health Dr. John Halperin offered a historical context for the helipad application that is rarely given. Lieber detailed a short history of Atlantic Health that explains the resource allocation among the partner hospitals and the vision to give each hospital in the system a speciality: Morristown Memorial became the hub for cardiac and pediatrics in addition to being the regions trauma center and Overlook became the center of excellence for neuroscience. "Overlook has now worked for over a decade to become really the best …

• Photos (1)

Helipad Lawn Signs Stolen

Approximately 20 signs on Oak Ridge Avenue stolen last night, according to residents.

Approximately two dozen "No-helipad" lawn signs were stolen from Oak Ridge Avenue sometime between 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday night, residents report. Tom Graham, a resident actively involved in the community opposition efforts, said it is unknown as of now all of the residents that were effected or who may have taken the signs. Several residents have reported to Patch that signs were stolen, however the number varies between 14 and 25. Summit Police Department reports in the weekly police blotter that five theft reports have been filed Susan Grates, 18 Oak Ridge Avenue, is one of those effected by the theft. Grates said she didn't notice her sign was missing at first because she often loans her to other neighbors since their is such high …

• Photos (1)

Behind the Zoning: The Overlook Helipad Application

Summit Patch and Hometowne Television have teamed up to help explain the zoning process and some of the most frequently asked questions in the helipad case.

Summit Patch has teamed up once again with Hometowne Television for another installment in the series on Overlook Hospital's zoning board application. In this installment, John Serruto from Hometowne and Summit Patch sat down with Joe Steinberg, chair of the Millburn Zoning Board to answer some of the most complex yet basic questions surrounding this case, such as how the zoning process works, definitions of some of the frequently used jargon, and questions about what goes in to the decision the zoning board has to make. Steinberg first explained why an application would go before the zoning board and not the planning board. In cases involving a "D" variance, or a use variance, Steinberg said those cases are always heard by zoning boards. …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)
• Videos (1)

Opposition Obtains Overlook Strategic Plan

Planner Peter Steck reports plan reveals no helipad was conceived in 2006.

While the Overlook Hospital master plan is still being sought, Attorney Michael Kates and his professional planner Peter Steck have obtained a copy of the Strategic Plan the hospital produced in 2006 for the Summit Master Plan Re-examination Committee. Bart Sheehan, attorney for Overlook Hospital, registered his continuing objection to allowing the strategic plan into evidence stating he felt it was, among other things, irrelevant to this application and had a high potential for prejudice. Steck reported that the strategic plan included details for expansions outside the current P-I zone. "At least in 2006 there was a sense of what the market was," Steck said. "The plan did talk about expansions at that time." Steck said the plan refers to…

Morristown Residents Discuss Life With a Helipad

Jay Delaney, one of the attorney's for the opposing neighbors, called three Morristown residents effected by the helipad at Morristown Memorial.

Three Morristown residents detailed their very different experiences living near the helipad at Morristown Memorial Hospital Monday night at the zoning board of adjustment meeting. Each of the three residents was called to testify on behalf of the group of opposing neighbors. Vijayant Pawar, who has lived in Morristown for three years, said his property abuts the property of Morristown Memorial Hospital but he is approximately 980 feet from the helipad. "It is extremely loud," he said. "We cannot have conversations when the helicopter is above the house or going towards the helipad. If we are sitting in the backyard we cannot have a conversation. It's three to four minutes before we can actually hear each other speak. " Pawar, who lives …

• Photos (1)