Helipad proposal nears final vote

By Paul Greulich, Staff Writer
SUMMIT — An application to the city’s Zoning Board to construct a helicopter landing pad on the roof of Overlook Hospital seems to be drawing closer to a final vote.
The applicant, Atlantic Health Service Hospital Corporation, will require preliminary and final major site plan approval as well as variance approval to move forward with the project.
Medical Director of Neuroscience at Overlook John Halperin said the primary purposes of adding a helistop at the facility will be to reduce transport time as well as the need for ground ambulance services. Most flights are expected to transport patients with serious neuroscience needs related to strokes and cranial bleeding. Halperin said that in treating strokes, time is of the essence, noting a motto, “time is brain.”
“With each hour lost, the amount of brain matter damaged increases and the outcome is worse,” Halperin said.
Objections to the proposal have come from citizens concerned about the impact of the helipad on their lives, particularly their property values and the noise disturbances associated with the aircraft. Attorney John DeLaney, who is representing one objector, said the objectors will soon be permitted to bring their own expert witnesses to the hearings.
“Clearly I suspect based on the testimony we’ve heard that the main issues will be noise, safety, real estate values, and planning issues,” said DeLaney, who works for the Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook & Cooper law firm.

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