On second thought, Haire helistop not a good idea, neighbor says

ODESSA -- The next door neighbor of auto dealer Ernie Haire has withdrawn his support for a helistop at Haire's home.

"I have enjoyed the peace and quiet here for over 10 years, but recently been disturbed by the noise of airplanes due to changing patterns of TPA," Dr. Alan Felker said in a letter to Hillsborough County. "I don't want to be disturbed by a helicopter next door."

Haire's request for a helistop was to go before a land-use hearing officer at 1:30 p.m. today, but Felker's 11th-hour switch has prompted the county's planning and growth management division to ask the LUHO for a continuance.

It will be the latest in a string of last-minute delays since Oct. 19. "It's a pretty significant piece of information and we didn't feel that staff could adequately consider this new information in a few days," said Tom Hiznay, the senior planner for planning and growth management.

When The St. Petersburg Times reached Felker in October, he had no objections and went as far as to ask Haire for a ride in the helicopter. At the time, he said a landing pad wouldn't diminish his quality of life "any more than someone racing down the road on their Harley Davidson." Less than a month later, on Nov. 5, he submitted a letter to county officials saying as much.

But on Monday, Felker rescinded that support. "My boat dock is very close to the adjacent property," he said in the new letter dated March 22. "The helicopter will probably create wake problems when my children take out the jet skis."

Hiznay had recommended the LUHO approve Haire's request with conditions. And a wildlife survey that Haire paid for showed a helistop would not endanger bald eagles as some neighbors had suggested.

The next available date for a public hearing is April 18. The LUHO would rule on the helistop within 15 days of that hearing.

Rodney Thrash, Times staff writer 

Comments

[Tony]

Wow, what a back stabbing moron. bet those jetskis make more noise and wake han a Helicopter. Plus, how often will someone use the copter? A lot less than his little pukes on those noisey jetskis. It is a shame a Dr. is so petty.