Controversy Over San Ramon's Measure E

If the backers of Measure E in San Ramon (CA) had their way, there would be no heliport in town -- at least, not for non-emergency traffic. But opponents dismiss it as an inconsequential piece of last-minute legislation aimed at curbing developers.

The Tri-Valley Herald reports Measure E is the fruit of a two-year effort by some San Ramon residents to confront local developer Sunset Corporation. The idea is to stop helicopter flights to and from the Bishop Ranch business park. Neighbors say the heliport there would expose them to toxic emissions, excessive noise levels and the possibility of a catastrophic accident. "This heliport is going to cater to a very few select individuals," said Rena Waterson, a Friends of San Ramon member. "For the entire community as a whole to be burdened with helicopters, it's not worth it."

But Measure E opponents say that's hogwash. They accuse Ms. Waterson of pandering to the fear of heliport neighbors. They say the chances of a helicopter crash at any heliport comes about once in 250 years.

"They're having success with fearmongering, of getting people worked up about helicopters falling on people's kids in Central Park," said Roz Rogoff, editor of the San Ramon Observer, a Web site devoted to local politics. "I don't see any logic to it. There's no reason to ban city heliports. If the location is bad, you don't give them a permit. If you give them a permit, you put restrictions on it."

Here's the catch: The developer of Bishop Ranch, Alex Mehran, doesn't even plan to build a heliport (heliport file photo, above right). "We don't think the heliport is an important issue," he said. "We do think it's a litmus test on how the council views the business community. Even if we can't build one, we think someone ought to be able to build one."

There was one. From 1990 to 1999, it catered to an average of 18 flights a year. Mehran bulldozed it to build a parking structure. In 2001, Sunset Corporation applied for another heliport permit from the local Planning Commission.

But Planning Commissioner Jeff Rhoton, himself a private pilot, says there are design flaws in the heliport as it sits on the drawing board. He says it's too close to a middle school. And he's up in arms about Sunset's announced plans to conduct two flights a day from the facility. "I am a big fan of general aviation," said Rhoton, who flies his own Beechcraft Sierra. "There's nothing I hate more than someone who's moved near an airport and complains about the noise. The reverse is working here. That's what I consider a bad actor in the aviation field."

If Measure E is passed at the polls, would change the city's zoning law. While it wouldn't ban construction of emergency-use heliports, it would restrict development of commercial or private heliport. But officials with San Ramon Regional Medical Center and the fire district say that the costs are prohibitive to building a single-use emergency heliport.

Hospital and rescue officials say there's just not enough traffic to justify it. In fact, Sunset offered to build a helipad for San Ramon Regional Hospital -- free. The hospital turned it down, saying traffic still wouldn't justify it.

FMI: www.ci.san-ramon.ca.us/bcc/plan.htm