Controversy Over San Ramon's Measure E
If the backers of
Measure E in San Ramon (CA) had their way, there would be no
heliport in town -- at least, not for non-emergency traffic. But
opponents dismiss it as an inconsequential piece of last-minute
legislation aimed at curbing developers.
The Tri-Valley Herald reports Measure E is the fruit of
a two-year effort by some San Ramon residents to confront local
developer Sunset Corporation. The idea is to stop helicopter
flights to and from the Bishop Ranch business park. Neighbors say
the heliport there would expose them to toxic emissions, excessive
noise levels and the possibility of a catastrophic accident. "This
heliport is going to cater to a very few select individuals," said
Rena Waterson, a Friends of San Ramon member. "For the entire
community as a whole to be burdened with helicopters, it's not
worth it."
But Measure E opponents say that's hogwash. They accuse Ms.
Waterson of pandering to the fear of heliport neighbors. They say
the chances of a helicopter crash at any heliport comes about once
in 250 years.
"They're having success with fearmongering, of getting people
worked up about helicopters falling on people's kids in Central
Park," said Roz Rogoff, editor of the San Ramon Observer, a Web
site devoted to local politics. "I don't see any logic to it.
There's no reason to ban city heliports. If the location is bad,
you don't give them a permit. If you give them a permit, you put
restrictions on it."
Here's the catch: The
developer of Bishop Ranch, Alex Mehran, doesn't even plan to build
a heliport (heliport file photo, above right). "We don't think the
heliport is an important issue," he said. "We do think it's a
litmus test on how the council views the business community. Even
if we can't build one, we think someone ought to be able to build
one."
There was one. From 1990 to 1999, it catered to an average of 18
flights a year. Mehran bulldozed it to build a parking structure.
In 2001, Sunset Corporation applied for another heliport permit
from the local Planning Commission.
But Planning Commissioner Jeff Rhoton, himself a private pilot,
says there are design flaws in the heliport as it sits on the
drawing board. He says it's too close to a middle school. And he's
up in arms about Sunset's announced plans to conduct two flights a
day from the facility. "I am a big fan of general aviation," said
Rhoton, who flies his own Beechcraft Sierra. "There's nothing I
hate more than someone who's moved near an airport and complains
about the noise. The reverse is working here. That's what I
consider a bad actor in the aviation field."
If Measure E is passed at the polls, would change the city's
zoning law. While it wouldn't ban construction of emergency-use
heliports, it would restrict development of commercial or private
heliport. But officials with San Ramon Regional Medical Center and
the fire district say that the costs are prohibitive to building a
single-use emergency heliport.
Hospital and rescue officials say there's just not enough
traffic to justify it. In fact, Sunset offered to build a helipad
for San Ramon Regional Hospital -- free. The hospital turned it
down, saying traffic still wouldn't justify it.