Helicopter landing areas
(a) General requirements. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the following criteria shall apply to all helistops in order to assure public safety:
(1) Helistops shall be located only in those districts as allowed by special use permit in section 19-98;
(2) No helistop shall be established or operated in the city until all applicable federal and state rules, regulations, requirements and permits are obtained and complied with;
(3) No helistop shall be established or operated in the city until all permits or fees as required by this chapter and the provisions of all other ordinances of the city and all other requirements are complied with;
(4) All helistop landing areas shall be located at ground level and shall not be permitted on roof tops, buildings or other elevated structures;
(5) The landing and taking off of helicopters at helistops shall be permitted only during daylight hours between sunrise and sunset;
(6) For the administration and enforcement of this section and the location, design and layout of helistops, the publication Heliport Design Guide AC 150/5390-1A by the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation dated November, 1969 or its latest equivalent, shall be used for standards and reference;
(7) A detailed site plan shall be submitted with all applications showing the size, location and other pertinent information of the touchdown, landing and peripheral area, types and location of constructed facilities, paving markings and location of safety equipment, parking layout, fencing and landscaping and all other facilities as required or provided. Additionally, a plot plan shall be submitted showing the helicopter landing facility with two clearance planes (approach and departure paths and side slopes) in relation to all physical features of the land including development thereon for a radius of at least 500 feet from the landing area.
(b) Approach, location and area requirements. Approach, location and area requirements shall be as follows:
(1) Approach and departure paths shall be selected to provide the most advantageous lines of flight to and from the landing and touchdown area and to minimize the adverse effects of excessive noise on residential areas, schools, churches, religious institutions and similar public and semi-public facilities.
(2) Every helistop shall be so located and used so as to provide at least two approach paths oriented as much as possible into the prevailing wind, at least 90 degrees apart, and clear of obstructions above an imaginary plane having a slope of eight feet horizontally to one foot vertically (8:1) flaring uniformly from the width of the landing area to a width of 500 feet at 4,000 feet from the landing area. If necessary, a curved approach may be used, however, it shall have a turning radius of not less than 700 feet.
(3) There shall be no obstructions adjacent to the landing area and the approach and departure paths above an imaginary plane (side slope) having a slope of two feet horizontally to one foot vertically (2:1) from the centerline of the approach and departure paths to a distance of 250 feet.
(4) The dimension of the touchdown area shall be equal to rotor dimensions of the largest helicopter anticipated to use the landing facility but in any instance not less than 20 feet by 20 feet.
(5) The width and length dimensions of the landing area including the touchdown area shall be at least 1.50 times the overall length of the largest helicopter anticipated to use the landing facility but in any instance not less than 50 feet by 50 feet.
(6) A peripheral clear area of at least ten feet shall be provided around the landing area for safety purposes.
(7) Helistops shall not be located any nearer than 200 feet to any adjacent residential zone boundary line.
(c) Improvement requirements. Improvement requirements for helicopter landing areas shall be as follows:
(1) All helicopter land pads, touchdown and landing areas shall be paved with dust-proof material and all pathways, driveways, parking areas and other similar associated facilities shall be paved.
(2) The peripheral area shall be surrounded by a fence or wall at least four feet in height and constructed in such a manner as to deflect the horizontal wind velocities caused by the rotation of the helicopter rotor blades.
(3) Landing markers and a wind indicating device shall be provided and be in conformance with any applicable state regulation and federal recommendation.
(4) At least one fire extinguisher shall be provided at helistops and an approved means of emergency communications such as telephone, fire alarm box or other signaling device may be required. All fire protection devices, equipment and the location thereof shall be subject to the approval of the fire prevention officer of the city fire department and he may impose such other safety requirements as deemed necessary.
(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 19-173; Ch. 914, § I(Att.), 12-19-23)