Kemper helistop still on hold following hearing examiner recommendation
By JOSHUA ADAM HICKS
Plans for locating a private helistop in downtown Bellevue are still not cleared for takeoff following a second review by the city's hearing examiner. Kemper Development applied more than a year ago for a conditional-use permit to operate a private landing station atop the Bank of America Building, located kitty corner from Bellevue Square on NE Eighth Street. Bellevue hearing examiner Christopher Mathews said this week that there are lingering questions about whether the Federal Aviation Administration did an appropriate assessment of the proposed landing pad. Mathews recommended that city staff revisit some of its homework on the matter, but he stopped short of denying the requested conditional-use permit. The hearing examiner reviewed the helistop proposal in July and approved the plan with conditions attached. Bellevue developer John Su and other local residents appealed that decision to the city council, which then handed the case back to the hearing examiner with instructions to review input from the FAA about potential safety concerns. At issue are two copies of an FAA form that the agency uses to review proposed landing stations. Mathews wrote that the city needs to determine which copy the FAA used as the basis of its "no objection letter." Mathews' recommendation will go to the city council, which then decides whether city staff should take a closer look at the matter. So keep your comments: We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.
Bellevue Reporter Former Staff Writer
March 17, 2010 · 6:45 PM
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