“PROPERTY VALUES
All known nuisances must be disclosed upon the sale of a home. The California Land Use Manual provides a disclosure form specifically for the proximity of an airport or heliport.
According to a report by Randall Bell, MIA, Certified Instructor for the Real Estate Appraisal Institute, commissioned by the Supervisors of Orange County (CA), the average home value diminution in the proximity of an airport is 27.4%. For smaller airports and weighing loss of value according to decibel (db) levels, such diminution is between 16.4% and 29.0% for noise levels above 35db. Napa County deems 55db an acceptable threshold.
Measure “D” will protect all property values”.
NAPA VISION 2050 IS SPONSORING MEASURE “D” (HELIPORTS) IN THE JUNE 2018 ELECTION.
WHAT MEASURE “D” DOES
PRIVATE HELIPORTS
Private use helicopter landings and take offs to and from residences will increasingly impact the Napa valley quality of life. Measure “D” will stop private heliports, noise pollution and accidents and helicopter taxi services as in other communities which failed to do so in time.
While we value property rights we must respect those of our neighbors who are entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their properties. Such relations are those we have come to treasure in the Napa valley. An environment free of neighborhood helicopter nuisance will continue to keep our county unique and protect our property values.
Wealthy residents who can afford a helicopter may use our two airports in Napa and Angwin.
HELICOPTER LANDINGS AT VINEYARDS
Current County Code permits landings at vineyards “for direct agricultural production such as aerial spraying and frost protection”. This provision has been abused by transporting consultants, executives, investors and visitors.
Measure “D” continues to allow landings at vineyards in support of aerial direct agricultural activities but only if they are unavoidable as in case of emergencies or for landing personnel which are essential to the conduct of such direct aerial agricultural activity. Equipment and supplies may be picked up at our two public airports before takeoff.
CRASHES
Per the 2015 1st International Helicopter Safety Symposium, helicopter crashes are more than 40 times those of fixed wing aircraft.
In the U.S. alone, there were 18 civil helicopter crashes in 2017 with 31 fatalities and in the first 60 days of 2018 already, 6 crashes with 19 fatalities. Many more crashes occurred with no fatalities starting fires and causing collateral damage on property below.
Per the FAA Analysis of Helicopter Mishaps at Heliports, 37% of all crashes occur within 1 mile. Spreading private heliports throughout the county increases risk and is bad policy.
Measure “D” restricts takeoffs and landings to our two public use airports which are better equipped to handle crashes in their immediate vicinity where they most occur.
PROPERTY VALUES
All known nuisances must be disclosed upon the sale of a home. The California Land Use Manual provides a disclosure form specifically for the proximity of an airport or heliport.
According to a report by Randall Bell, MIA, Certified Instructor for the Real Estate Appraisal Institute, commissioned by the Supervisors of Orange County (CA), the average home value diminution in the proximity of an airport is 27.4%. For smaller airports and weighing loss of value according to decibel (db) levels, such diminution is between 16.4% and 29.0% for noise levels above 35db. Napa County deems 55db an acceptable threshold.
Measure “D” will protect all property values.
ADMINISTRATIVE ECONOMY
One single application for a private heliport at the Palmaz home at the end of Hagen Road has consumed 20% of the Planning Commission’s annual public hearings and over 1,100 hours of county staff. The entire neighborhood spent over 3,000 hours attending these hearings and thousands of dollars in reviewing and preparing documents in defense of their properties and their quality of life, all because a single person wishes to fly a helicopter for recreational purposes a mere 10 miles from the Napa airport.
Measure “D” will allow the Planning Commission and staff to devote more time to more important issues for the health and welfare of the county’s residents.
GRANDFATHERING
Measure “D” will not take effect until after it is approved by the voters. All permitted, existing private airports and heliports are grandfathered.
EMERGENCY HELICOPTER LANDINGS
Emergency, fire and law enforcement helicopters may land anywhere, any time.
INITIATIVE – TEXT to read heliport initiative.