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Man proposes heliport in Ozona
By ROBERT FARLEY
© St. Petersburg Times, OZONA -- A Dunedin man who runs a helicopter flight training school out of St. Petersburg-Clearwater International airport wants to land helicopters at the Ozona Industrial Park for maintenance. But when Neil Stananought pitches his plans to county planners Monday, he likely will be opposed by several neighbors who equate helicopter takeoffs and landings with unwanted noise and dust. Stananought, 48, who owns and operates Ten 7 Aviation Inc., which does business as T.S.A. Helicopters, stressed that the helicopter pad would only be for his personal use. His helicopter school includes a flight training school, charters and tours, aerial surveys and photo flights, and will remain at the airport, he said. Stananought said the 2.5-acre Ozona property would strictly be for maintenance of his helicopters. He owns four helicopters. Stananought, a native of Liverpool, England, who raced motorcycles professionally for 20 years in Europe, said last week that he didn't want to discuss how often helicopters would be taking off and landing until he presents his plan to the county planning and zoning board. "I don't want people to prejudge," he said. Some neighbors have already decided they don't like the idea. "It's just a little too close to too much stuff," said Cheryl Noell, owner of Noel Industries, which distributes toys used in arcade games. Noel Industries abuts the proposed heliport. Noell also lives nearby. "I'm not real thrilled about having a helicopter land near my home," she said. "My bedroom faces where the helicopters would be taking off and landing. I would definitely be hearing those helicopters all the time." There are too many power lines and buildings nearby, she said. "Having it here with so many residences and businesses around, it feels funny," she said. "There's not enough open space. If they are landing a helicopter, I don't want to take the chance of them not making it." Bob Lickert, owner of Dorado Marine, where fiberglass sport fishing boats are made, said the dust and dirt kicked up by a helicopter would wreak havoc on his business. "We have a lot of molds," he said. "If they land here, the wind would bring all the dust over here." If the property were all asphalt, that wouldn't be so bad, he said, but it's mostly dirt, which would cause dust. "Would you want to buy a boat with dust and sand in it?" he asked. In a letter to county officials, Stananought stated that he would avoid flying over any residential area at less than 500 feet and would prohibit any flight to the south of the property. "The FAA does not have a minimum altitude requirement for helicopters as they do for airplanes," he wrote. "It is, however, accepted that safety is the primary issue and environmental preservation fits in that category, thus ensuring that pilots and operators observe that courteous control of our privileges leads to a long-term future in the industry." The property at the northeast corner of Florida Avenue and Bear Ridge Circle is owned by Tampa Turf & Landscaping Inc. and would be leased to Stananought. But Stananought said he intends to buy the property if the county grants the permit for the heliport. Having a heliport is allowed on industrial property, but it requires a conditional use permit. The permit requires the discretionary approval of the Pinellas County Commission. The zoning examiner's hearing will begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 1 in the County Commission room on the fifth floor of the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater. -- Staff writer Robert Farley can be reached at (727) 445-4185 or farley@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
