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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06161994 Min Ag ,. . .-- . y City of Port Townsend Planning Commission 540 \-Vater St., Port Townsend, '\-VA 98368 206/385-3000 PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA Special Meeting June 16, 1994 I. ROLL CALL II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 26,1994 III. COMMUNICATIONS: Current mail IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Jefferson General Hospital . (Conditional Use Permit Application #9401-11 1. Staff Report (Bloomfield) 2. Public Testimony 3. - Committee Report (Enarson/Rickard) 4.· Commission Discussion and Conclusions V. NEW BUSINESS . A. - Schedule hearing for July 14, -1994 Robert A. Friedman . Conditional Use Permit Application #9406-04 VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS:. Next Scheduled Meetings June 30. 1994 July 14. 1994 VII. ADJOURN # -. . . City of Port Townsend Planning and Building Department 540 Water St., Port Townsend, WA 98368 206/385-3000 I Business Meeting PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES June 16, 1994 I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Lois Sherwood. Other members in attendance were Lisa Enarson, Cindy Thayer and Bob Rickard. Ernie Baird, Karen Erickson and Mark Welch were excused. Staff members present were Darlene Bloomfield, Michael Hildt, Pam Kolacy, and Judy Erlandson. II. APPROV AL OF MINUTES: May 26, 1994. The minutes from the meeting of May 26, 1994, were approved as corrected. III. COMMUNICATIONS: Current Mail Michael Hildt introduced a new staff member, Judy Erlandson, who is the receptionist for the Mayor and Building & Planning. IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Jefferson General Hospital (Conditional Use Permit Application #9401-11) 1. Staff Report (Bloomfield) - Conditional Use Application. Bloomfield noted the revised proposal from the hospital, favoring a site on the roof top of the new addition. 2. Public Testimony. Vic Dirksen, Administrator, Warren Tyler, Architect, Tony Deleo, Hospital Commissioner, and David Ketchum, a helipad design consultant, spoke for the applicants, summarizing the new preferred roof top site. Dirksen commended the entire hospital team for their sincere efforts to find the most suitable site. Warren Tyler reviewed the location of all sites, and noted the preferred roof top helipad location and design. David Ketchum discussed importance of air transport in the survival rate of trauma patients. The FAA provides the recommendations, but does not impose requirements for the design or location of private helipads, so common sense is required on the part of the hospital team to select a site that is safe and compatible with the community. Ketchum supplied background for his recommendation of the new roof top site, stating the hospital has more control because the higher landing site provides fewer obstructions to air traffic. Expense is a major consideration, but the architect has planned for clear air space and the design is utilitarian and cost effective. The structure of the pad was summarized: a circular landing area defined by painted white lines; a heliport flood light that will illuminate the pad area and will not impair Planning Commission Minutes June 16, 1994 1 · · · the pilot's night vision; and a staging area just outside the elevator, accessible only to hospital staff, thus eliminating possible interference from traffic or pedestrians that might be present at a ground-level site. Vic Dirksen provided additional information about the analysis process, including clearance considerations, access, take off and landing, and the fact that the site affords almost 180 degrees of unobstructed flight path. Dirksen showed the distance from E.R. to the pad on request from Enarson, who noted that this location is a change from the original idea. Sherwood requested information from Ketchum regarding the flexibility of this proposed helipad design for future long-term use. Ketchum stated that the parameters for final approach and take off meet current FAA standards, and will accommodate the helicopters now in use, as well as any models designed in the foreseeable future. If the rotor size of future helicopter models ever increases beyond current sizes, then it might be necessary to get approval to expand the surface area of the pad on the new roof top site, or add a super structure that would raise the actual pad landing surface. Tony Deleo pointed out that the pad would be used mostly to transport outgoing patients, leaving Jefferson General Hospital for transport to some other trauma center. Mr. Robert Brydon referenced the temporary helipad site, expressing concern that the site is dangerous, and he would like some other site to be considered for the temporary pad. He is in favor of the roof location for the permanent pad site. He deferred to Attorney Erwin Jones to address concerns about the temporary site. Jones stated that he and his client would like to commend the hospital team for their efforts. A definition of "temporary" - how long will the temporary site be used - was requested, as well as assurances that when the new addition and permanent helipad is completed, that the use of the temporary site will be discontinued. Jones stated that his client would agree to the conditions of the SEPA proposal if this temporary site were eliminated. Paul Asmus also commended the hospital's efforts. He asked what the maximum weight would be for the new permanent roof top design. The hospital team responded, 15,000 lbs. Asmus expressed his concerns that the size and weight of the largest helicopters that may use the site be considered in its design, and that if additional expense is required to accommodate the largest craft, then it should be included now in the original design. Sherwood stated that Asmus's questions about specific helicopter and pad design parameters are not within the expertise of this commission. Hildt clarified that the specifications would be covered in the code and would be addressed in plan review, and that the hospital and architects are incorporating these and other considerations into their planning process. Planning Commission Minutes June 16, 1994 2 · · · Sherwood stated that there is no ideal solution for the temporary site, that some concerns may remain, but that the commission is aware of these concerns and all are being taken into consideration. David Ketchum showed the flight path to and from both the roof top site and the temporary site, and further explained helicopter flight characteristics and pilot judgement. Hildt confirmed that the FAA review showed that the officially approved approach is not hazardous. If conditions at the time of flight should warrant use of an alternative approach, the pilot will use their own judgement to determine the safest approach. In comparing all possible approaches, the differences in possible disturbances to the community are insignificant. Thayer asked about an additional visit to the site by the FAA that was mentioned in the last meeting. Ketchum confirmed the visit, and stated that it was another review of the proposed site. Mr. Robert Brydon requested clarification of use of "friendly flight pattern". Hildt confirmed that the pilot will turn, descend, etc. in a way that will minimize noise levels. Brydon expressed concern again about the danger of using certain flight approaches, especially a path near his house. . Hildt confirmed that the pilot would use a curved northwest approach depending on the weather, wind and weight of load, always making the safest approach based on the conditions. The east approach (by Brydon's house) would only be used if conditions required it, and then most likely only on the takeoff. The alternate approach paths are also safe, there is no compromise on safety, but the preferred approach is considered the safest. Brydon also expressed concern about frequent high winds in P.T., and wanted to be sure that the hospital is taking that into consideration. David Ketchum explained that the time, cost, patient handling and other factors involved in air transport are considered, and that the point is to eliminate ground transfer of trauma victims whenever possible. Whenever air transfer conditions are unsafe, then ground transport is an alternative. The pilots are well trained and experienced, and always use their best judgement to provide the safest air transport possible. Mr. Brydon wanted to address the danger of pedestrians, and passing auto traffic in the. use of the temporary site in the parking lot. Ketchum explained that those factors are part of hospital management considerations. He will advise on ways to ensure the' safe use of this site, and confirmed that the hospital team is doing all it can to insure safety at the temporary site. Planning Commission Minutes June 16, 1994 3 · · · , . 3. Commission Report. Enarson commended the hospital team for all their work so far. The roof top site is a good proposal, and she suggested that all safety considerations, and other objections previously discussed have been addressed. The objections to the temporary pad site were addressed in the last meeting. Testimony has been received from David Ketchum, helicopter consultant, and Mark Hansen, Safety Director of Airlift Northwest which serves the hospital. The hospital is considering all input from experts and the community. Enarson recommends approval. Rickard stated that the purpose of the Planning Commission in this matter is to hear from the applicant, the public, and experts, and all this has been done. Rickard concurs on recommending approval. Temporary as it applies to the temporary helipad site to be used during construction, could be defined as "until occupancy of hospital". Thayer commended the hospital team. She lives close by and the helicopter flies over her house too. She noted that risks are involved, but that she knew about those risks when she bought a house in the neighborhood of the hospital. Rickard asked staff to rewrite some parts of the Findings of Fact to correct the language applicable to the new roof top site proposal, and the temporary site, to add two new conditions and to have the revisions ready for review prior to the 6/20 Council meeting. The changes reflect the temporary relocation of the heliport to the north of the hospital, and the proposed new helipad on the roof of the hospital addition which would begin being used at the time the addition is approved for occupancy. The changes to the Conditions are as follows: Item 2 as originally written was stricken, and replaced with the proposed temporary helipad at Cleveland and 9th street may be used until occupancy of the hospital expansion. Conditions 3-6 were renumbered 6-9. New conditions 3, 4 and 5 cover safety issues regarding airspace determination, approach/departure corridor slope parameters, and safety area minimum size standards. There was no further discussion. Motion by Rickard that the Planning Commission recommend to City Council the approval of Conditional Use Application 9401-11, as revised. Enarson seconded. All in favor. V. NEW BUSINESS A. Scheduled hearing for July 14, 1994, for Robert A. Friedman Conditional Use Permit Application #9406-04. Planning Commission Minutes June 16, 1994 4 VI. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Next Scheduled Meetings · July 28, 1994 CANCELLED. · · July 14, 1994. Hearing for Robert A. Friedman Conditional Use Permit Application #9406-04. VII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm. Planning Commission Minutes June 16, 1994 5 -