The case for a helipad on Fair Avenue

LINDA DROLLINGER
Posted 8/21/12

HONESDALE, PA — No one in attendance at the two-hour January 21 public hearing before the Honesdale Borough Council disputed the need for a life-flight helipad close to Wayne Memorial Hospital. The …

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The case for a helipad on Fair Avenue

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HONESDALE, PA — No one in attendance at the two-hour January 21 public hearing before the Honesdale Borough Council disputed the need for a life-flight helipad close to Wayne Memorial Hospital. The bone of contention was its proposed location: 1839 Fair Avenue, one mile from the hospital, on property owned by Wayne Memorial Health Systems (WMHS) near the medical offices of Highland Physicians.

The three people who voiced their objections at the hearing, Paul Non, Gary DeMasi and Katie Stephens, were designated intervenors, third parties in a hearing who do not have a direct interest in the case but do have ascertainable interests and perspectives essential to a judicial determination. Recognized as intervenors by both the borough’s attorney, Paul Henry, and the hospital’s attorney, Matthew Meagher, the three identified themselves as residents of Fair Avenue, living directly across from the proposed helipad site, Non within 50 feet of it.

Disadvantaged by the absence of their attorney, the intervenors repeatedly requested a continuance that would either allow their attorney to recover from the medical condition that caused his absence or permit them time to find another attorney. Their requests were denied by borough council members, who cited the need for compliance with lawful time constraints.

Intervenor objections were based mostly on noise, light and property devaluation issues. Non asked the hospital’s engineer, Gerald Phillips, if the 85-105 decibels emitted by a Sikorski S-76 helicopter was comparable to that of a jackhammer. Admitting that he was not a sound engineer, Phillips compared the helicopter noise level to a lawnmower or chainsaw and said that it will not exceed levels permitted by borough noise ordinance in a commercial area.

Non noted that one side of Fair Avenue is zoned for commercial use and the other for residential use. Phillips acknowledged that, saying that if the property were not used as a helipad, it could be the site of a shopping mall or other commercial venture that would invite more noise and congestion than the helipad. An average of two flights per month is expected.

DeMasi said that he found out about the helipad while in the process of selling his house. The sale fell through when the buyer found out about the proposed helipad and faulted DeMasi for failing to disclose it. Now, says DeMasi, the house that was selling for $135,000 is apparently worth only $105,000.

Stephens said that her primary concerns revolve around her special-needs child, who becomes alarmed by loud noises and bright lights.

Intervenors aside, residents were overwhelmingly in favor of the helipad, which will enable the hospital to achieve Level IV trauma center status.

One of many speakers in favor of the helipad, Greater Honesdale Partnership executive director Gail Tucker, said that her organization’s mission to support local businesses and attract commerce and tourism to the area is also concerned with expanding goods and services that elevate quality of life, the hospital among them.

The only consolation extended to the intervenors was the possibility that the helipad’s Fair Avenue location might be short-lived. Also speaking in favor of the helipad, Dr. William Dewar said that the hospital’s long-term plans for expansion include a rooftop heliport.

At $900,000, the rooftop heliport construction would be considerably more costly than the $100,000 estimated for the Fair Avenue helipad, said WMHS CEO David Hoff in private remarks, adding that the $35 million proposed expansion is tentatively scheduled for completion in late fall 2018.

The borough council will vote on the helipad at its February 8 meeting.

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