The Concession submits noise study to Manatee County in support of helistop in East Manatee
EAST MANATEE -- Owners of The Concession Golf Club, who submitted plans to add a helistop to their exclusive community in March, stirring up a wave of protest from neighboring Panther Ridge, have amended their application by adding a noise study.
The study by Keane Acoustics of Oldsmar concluded noise levels would be negligible and fall within the allowable county limit.
Keane Acoustics visited The Concession on Sept. 1 to measure the sound of a helicopter traveling east from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, according to papers filed in October with Manatee County Building and Development Services.
The study concluded lawn maintenance and delivery trucks at The Concession made more noise than the helicopter, as did passing fixed-wing aircraft.
"Due to the infrequent nature of the helicopter events, and the likely compliance with the Manatee County Noise Code, the potential noise impact of the proposed use of the helistop is negligible," the report concluded.
The owners of The Concession have said helicopters would average two landings per month, all during daylight hours, or about 24 a year. Helicopters would not be flown to or from The Concession after dark.
Even with the new noise study, it seems unlikely Panther Ridge resident concerns have been put to rest.
"My concern is that when Panther Ridge residents bought into this neighborhood, they bought into a quiet, rural, equestrian lifestyle. The introduction of a helistop, even if within the county's noise ordinance limits, negatively impacts that lifestyle in a significant way. Helicopters are the antithesis of all things quiet, rural and equestrian," full-time Panther Ridge resident Justin Norwood wrote in an email to the Bradenton Herald.
"At the end of the day, helistops are not permitted without commission special approval for a reason. If every neighborhood had a helistop, there would be mass chaos in Manatee County. It should take a special need -- such as the business needs in lower Manhattan -- in order to approve a helistop. The Concession has not adequately made the case for why their community needs a helistop," Norwood wrote.
The Concession had been under a six-month deadline to respond to questions from Manatee County planners or the application would have been considered abandoned, the Herald previously reported.
Among the requests by Manatee County residents: Provide evidence the helistop would meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
John R. Foley, president of Lombardo, Foley and Kolarick Inc. of Palmetto, responded in a letter to the county on behalf of The Concession, that local approval of the helistop land use is required before application can be made to FAA.
The proposed site has ample buffering so noise from the helistop would be negligible to adjacent landowners, Foley wrote.
In July, the Herald reported Concession attorney Otto Jack Jr., and D. J. Fredericks, attorney for the Foxwood Homeowner Association at Panther Ridge, were engaged in amicable negotiations to resolve concerns about a helistop.
Monday, however, Fredericks said he had no comment. The Herald was unable to reach Jack for comment.
No dates have been set for public hearing for the helistop before either the Manatee County Planning Commission, or the Manatee County Commission, said Stephanie Moreland, Manatee County principal planner for the helistop request.
James A. Jones Jr., East Manatee reporter, can be contacted at 941-745-7053 or on Twitter@jajones1. Claire Aronson, Manatee County government reporter, assisted with this story.
This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 5:45 PM with the headline "The Concession submits noise study to Manatee County in support of helistop in East Manatee ."