7/14/2007 9:59:00 PM
County planners deny heli-pad in Williamson Valley area
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PRESCOTT - Private helicopters will not be landing in the Williamson Valley area.
The Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday voted 7-2 to deny a request from Richard Cornwell for a use permit for a heli-pad on his property in the Long Meadows Ranch community.
Cornwelll's agent, Dennis Rogers, said the heli-pad would be on less than one-tenth of an acre on a 36-acre parcel of the more than 500 acres Cornwell owns.
Cornwell's property consists of 13 separate parcels zoned Residential; Limited; 10-acre minimum.
The commission indicated it could support the request if the property was one 500-acre ranch, but could not support it in a residential area.
"In my estimation, it ceases to be residential if it is one parcel, a 500-acre ranch. However, 36 acres is not a ranch," Chairman Curt Garner said.
Despite Rogers' explanations about noise abatement, flight patterns and the availability of the heli-pad to emergency services, the commission did not consider "convenience" an acceptable reason for the heli-pad.
"I don't think a residential area is a good place for a helicopter," Commissioner Joe Jackson said.
Resident Greg Arthur said he thought the heli-pad would benefit and not detract from the community.
Friends of Williamson Valley Inc. President Georgene Lockwood said the organization opposed the heli-pad. "We are opposed to zoning by exception. This is inappropriate for the area - for people, recreational use and horses," Lockwood said.
Jackson said residents bought property in the Williamson Valley area because of the rural setting and the commission should listen to them.
"I recognize the convenience, but due to community opposition and the underlying zoning, it is my recommendation to deny the use permit," Jackson said,
The commission voted 7-2 to forward the use permit application to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation for denial. Commissioners Jon Barnert and Tex Providence voted against the recommendation to deny.
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Posted: Sunday, July 15, 2007
Article comment by:
Candace McNulty
"Helipad in Williamson Valley." The phrase caught an echo that's been resonating in my brain for months now. I'll tell you the story: I went with a friend into one of those well-appointed offices downtown, you know the ones… pictures of lush green ranchland on the walls, brochures enticing you to buy into a fully master-planned community offering the finest amenities, tranquility, privacy, endless recreation, an Old West legacy for your family, the American Dream.
My friend provides a service that we know such Americans want and need. But how to reach them? Well, these gated communities tend to have clubhouses, and we thought my friend might leave brochures there.
The young professional who greeted us in the tastefully appointed office was warm, but (with empathetic regret) none too encouraging. I can't recall the exact words this young professional used, but what my stunned brain registered was, "Oh, honey, these people hardly ever go into Prescott… basically, they just helicopter out of there whenever they need something from the outside world, you know, to Scottsdale or wherever."
So I'm submitting this as a kind of challenge, of the "Say it ain't so!" variety. If you live in one of these lush green enclaves, let's get a conversation going! Send in your thoughts about the downtown community, how often you come in, what you like to do, how you're involved (PFAA? Habitat? Senior Center activities? Tuesday night movies at the Raven? Open mike at Coyote Joe's?) Write a letter to the editor, let me know you're out there!
Uh -- you do read the Courier, right?
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