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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Private aircraft not right for area

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published October 2, 2007

Re: Helipad headed for approval, story, Sept. 25

Let's ground this helicopter. Existing conflicts between helicopter noise and the expectation of quiet enjoyment of one's property occur in many places nationwide and safety issues abound. We don't need to invite these problems into East Lake and then spend decades trying to rid ourselves of them.

Helicopter use can and does provide important and beneficial public purposes to the entire community, such as law enforcement, emergency rescue and transportation, and mosquito control. However, these are not daily flights, they rarely fly lower than 500 feet, and they do not touch down weekly in our neighbors' back yards. Mr. Geiger's helicopter serves no purpose other than his own.

The proposed flight path will be directly over many homes in the area and in extremely close proximity to schools and ballfields, including an outdoor recreational sports complex that may be constructed on the southeast corner of Keystone and East Lake roads.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports 2,211 helicopter accidents during the period from 1990-2000. Of these, 399 accidents were "personal" types of operation, resulting in the highest percentage among 11 other types, including business, ferry, public use and others. An FAA database of domestic air accidents for the period 2003-2007 documents that helicopters have a much higher accident rate than airplanes.

The public Brooker Creek Preserve Scenic Horse Trail is approximately 700 feet from Mr. Geiger's property. Loud noises of a helicopter can frighten even a calm and even-natured horse and lead to rider injuries and death. Pinellas County government would be liable for allowing such a hazardous condition to exist by approving a conditional use in close proximity to horse-riding activities.

The area in which Mr. Geiger lives is basically a rural residential community with many outdoor uses that include golfing, youth sports, equestrian activities and passive recreational activities such as walking, hiking, birding, horseback riding and others.

Our community lacks industrial or commercial uses; it is a "bedroom" community where residents are entitled to safe and quiet enjoyment of their property, night and day. Private aircraft use is totally inappropriate in our community.

What's next? Multiple helicopters landing and taking off at Bison Creek Estates and other East Lake parcels? It could happen unless you contact the county commissioners before their vote on Oct. 16.

Jeanne M. Johnson, Tarpon Springs

Re: Helipad headed for approval, story, Sept. 25

Who will watch for violations?

It appears that the county staff is still operating under the old rule that the well connected are entitled to special treatment in Pinellas County.

Although county staff's recommendation to approve Matt Geiger's noisy helipad comes with a long list of conditions limiting the times that his helicopter can land and take off, the question I have posed on many occasions to the county is, "Who will enforce these conditions?"

Will the commissioners take turns watching the landing pad to make sure the conditions are met?

Moreover, since Geiger has already admitted that he has landed his helicopter in violation of the current zoning law, what assurances can he give that he won't violate these newconditions?

This matter will test whether the commissioners have learned anything from the Smith fiasco.

Robert T. Loos, Tarpon Springs

Re: Reclaimed water for Crystal Beach

Reclaimed water quality a concern

The fees from reclaimed water will result in an unfair "tax" on those who can least afford it. People with small or xeriscaped yards will have to pay add-on charges, without using the service. Once those charges appear on our water bills, we can be sure they will increase, especially with reclaimed water shortages and shutdowns forecast in North Pinellas in the future.

I am concerned about the quality of reclaimed wastewater, which has been found to have small amounts of many contaminants that cannot be removed by current treatment. Having to pay for it, too, is adding insult to injury.

We have invited County Commissioner Susan Latvala to discuss this with us at our general meeting today in Crystal Beach.

Suzette Phalsgraff, Crystal Beach

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified October 1, 2007, 21:26:29]