NIMBY Neighbors Complain Of Noise, Frequency Of Flights

A long-established seaplane business is suddenly facing possible cancellation of its permit because some NIMBY neighbors are complaining about noise and frequency of flights.

Seaplane Adventures has been offering scenic tours operating from Richardson Bay in Marin County, CA for more than 70 years. But the bay has also attracted developers of homes and condominiums, and now some of the residents are complaining to the county about the noise, saying it makes it impossible for them to work at home and that it is disturbing to the wildlife in the area.

As a result, the county is is considering multiple options, including modifying Seaplane Adventures' permit to limit the number of flights it could conduct each day, up to banning seaplane operations from Richardson Bay entirely, according to a report from the Marin Independent Journal.

Aaron Singer became the owner of Seaplane Adventures in 2012. The county has noted that the number of flights has increased in recent years. Still, Singer and his family were surprised when they got the notice. He asserts that the company has followed all of the parameters of the company's permit, and that safety is the company's number one priority.

Resident Sandy Donegan says that a portion of Richardson Bay is closed to boating and other water activity during the winter months to protect migratory birds, and that should include the seaplanes. Donegan said the birds are "terrorized" by the seaplanes.

Another resident, Eliza Florez, told the paper that the planes should operate further from shore.

Steve Sekhon, who makes his home on a houseboat near the seaplane operation, said that he's never seen any unsafe flying on the part of Seaplane Adventures. And he finds the sound of the engine powering the company's de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver "charming". He said Seaplane Adventures has been in operation "far longer than there have been houses is Strawberry." He compared it to development that has encroached on a land-based airport where neighbors move in and then complain about the noise.

Singer says that he is in strict compliance with the conditions set forth in his permit. A county-initiated study in conducted in 2016 showed that Seaplane Adventures is indeed complying with the permit. The county made unannounced inspections around Richardson Bay after neighbors complained about the noise.

The county Planning Commission will meet on August 28th at the Marin Civic Center to consider four options. They include making no changes to the company's permit; modifying the permit; revoking the permit; or banning seaplane operations from Richardson Bay entirely.

The County Staff has recommended that the Planning Commission restrict seaplane operations to six per day consisting of one takeoff and one landing. Aircraft using the county seaplane base would be restricted to no more than eight passengers, and aircraft maneuvers should not take place over an inlet to the northeast of the facility.

FMI: Original Report