Kemper Development has two new hurdles to clear in its bid to land helicopters in downtown Bellevue. Both obstacles come in the form of citizen-lead efforts.
Local developer John Su has appealed a SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) determination of non-significance for the proposal, while around 33 residents have signed a petition to delay the permitting process until the city can fully analyze the potential impacts.
“We’re just asking the city to get in front of this issue,” said Bellevue resident Lynn Terpstra, who helped draft the petition.
A hearing for the SEPA appeal will take place July 9 at 7 p.m. at Bellevue City Hall, with the public welcome to attend.
Kemper has requested a conditional-use permit to operate a private helistop on the Bank of America building. The flight path for all helicopters using that station would be limited to local freeways and Northeast Eighth Street.
Terpstra said that the city should not move forward with the permitting process until it creates a comprehensive policy on helicopters.
Many residents have expressed concern about potential noise and safety problems involved with the helipad proposal, but a SEPA environmental review indicates there would be no significant impacts.
Su is appealing that determination on the grounds that helistops could alter the quality of life downtown, and that there was not adequate notice prior to the two noise tests that Kemper commissioned as part of the SEPA review.
The state requires government agencies to complete a SEPA environmental review before making a determination on a conditional-use permit.
Su is developing a 22-story residential complex called Ashwood Commons, located near Northeast 10th Street and 112th Avenue Northeast. He also has plans for two downtown projects that are in the permitting stages.
“We feel if the city wants residential development in downtown Bellevue, it should provide a good quality of living for the residents,” Su said.
Kemper’s heliport-planning consultant, David Ketchum, contends that the proposed helipad would have nominal impacts.
“The rise above the ambient noise level is almost indistinguishable, and the frequency and duration are very low,” he said. “When you look at that objectively, we feel the impacts are minimal.”
Two sound studies have already been done to test the effects of helicopter landings and takeoffs at the proposed helistop site.
A Bellevue hearing examiner is looking at Kemper’s permit request, and is expected to make a decision or pass a recommendation to the city council within 10 days of the last public hearing.
Around 25 people attended a June 10 hearing with the examiner, and a second meeting was scheduled for June 11 to conclude the proceedings.
Bellevue’s development-services department has recommended approval of the conditional-use permit application with stipulations that include:
• Operating only Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5p.m.
• Allowing a maximum of five landings and takeoffs per week, and never on Sundays or legal holidays.
• Requiring monthly flight-activity reporting for the first year
• Allowing light turbine helicopters only
A full Bellevue Development Services staff report on the proposed helistop is available here.
