Buena City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XX
Heliports, Helistops and Helipads
§ 150-218 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to provide regulation and standards for the operation of helicopter facilities, to provide for their location in the interest of public health, safety and convenience and to ensure the safe and orderly development of such facilities and other uses surrounding them.
§ 150-219 Licensing.
Applicants proposing to operate a new aeronautical facility or demolish or modify an existing facility shall:
A.
Submit an application for new aeronautical facility license or alteration form to the New Jersey Division of Aeronautics at least 30 calendar days prior to the anticipated commencement of site development. No construction, demolition or modification shall commence prior to receipt of the signed, approved application from the Director and site plan approval by the municipal Board.
B.
Submit a plan.
(1)
The plan shall be certified by a land surveyor or professional engineer licensed in New Jersey, drawn to a scale of one inch to 50 feet, showing the following:
(a)
A true North arrow.
(b)
The dimensions of the landing area.
(c)
The location in height above grade of obstructions in all directions from the center of the land area to the distance prescribed by the Division of Aeronautics.
(d)
The location of approach/departure paths.
(e)
All property lines.
(f)
The location of the municipal boundaries.
(2)
The Division reserves the right to specify methods, standards, techniques and sites appropriate for aeronautical facilities. Any changes to an approved application must be submitted to the Director. No changes will be approved if the impact on contiguous land areas or airspace is substantially changed.
C.
Other requirements to be submitted for licensing.
(1)
Submissions shall be as follows:
(a)
In the case of a rooftop facility, a certification by a professional engineer or architect that the structural limits of the structure are sufficient for the type of operations proposed.
(b)
A legal description of the premises, certified by a professional land surveyor or civil engineer. If the premises are not owned by the applicant, the applicant must identify on the license application the owner and any other party holding an interest in the facility area by lease or otherwise. Prior to licensing, approval for the facility must be secured in writing from the owner.
(c)
A certification from the municipal Planning or Zoning Board that the proposed facility, as submitted in the application to the Division, has been reviewed and conforms to the current zoning regulations and the land development ordinances. If the proposed facility or any change to an existing facility does not so conform, the applicant shall submit a statement detailing the conflict and explaining the need for the proposed facility, together with copies of all relevant provisions of the zoning regulations and applications which have been made for local approval.
(d)
A completed copy of the notice of proposed construction or alteration (FAA Form 7480-1, as amended or superseded) at the same time it is forwarded to the federal authorities.
(e)
Any other relevant information which may be required for a public hearing or proceeding requested by the Division.
(2)
Any license issued does not waive any federal rule or regulation or burden of compliance with federal advisory circulars relating to aeronautics. Further, any license issued may be modified, suspended or revoked in the interest of public safety or as a result of established violation of the governing statutes.
§ 150-220 Renewal of licenses.
A.
Since public safety and the safety of all those using the aeronautical facilities is paramount, the renewal of a license shall be made only after:
B.
Any license issued, other than for temporary facilities, shall expire one year from date of issue but shall be renewed upon satisfactory renewal application and reinspection.
§ 150-221 Temporary licenses.
A.
The Division may issue temporary licenses to permit the operation of an aeronautical facility for a period of less than one year, for a special purpose and from a designated area, which normally requires no facility preparation. The application for a temporary license shall be submitted to the Division and provide the following (N.J.S.A. 16:54-l.8B):
(1)
A letter of approval from the municipality.
(2)
A sketch of the proposed facility showing all required details.
(3)
Certification that applicant controls the area or that the area is to be used with permission of the owner.
(4)
A description of the provisions for public safety within the operational area.
(5)
The name, address and phone number of the person(s) responsible for the conduct of the proposed operations.
(6)
Aircraft specifications indicating that the proposed operations can be safely conducted.
(7)
A list of persons intending to utilize the facility and their qualifications.
B.
Temporary licenses shall specify an expiration date, shall delineate the area of approved operations, and may carry other applicable privileges or limitations specified by the Division.
C.
Temporary licenses are not automatically renewed upon request.
§ 150-222 Facility layout and other standards.
A.
Size and shape. The size and shape shall be determined by the operations proposed, the site available, the size and performance of helicopter and the objects affecting the surrounding air space.
B.
Surface. Any part or all surface areas of a heliport/helistop may be in its natural state or may be improved depending on needs and site conditions. All surfaces, whether turf, paved, portable pad or combinations of materials, shall be constructed and stabilized so as to be maintained free of any objects that could be a hazard by being blown about by rotor downwash.
C.
Load bearings. All surface areas to be used to accept the full static weight of a helicopter shall have load-bearing capabilities consistent with the size and shape of the helicopter authorized to use the facility.
D.
Applicability. The minimum operational safety requirements shall apply regardless of the facility configuration and/or attendant features, unless specific exemptions have been granted by the Division of Aeronautics.
§ 150-223 Specific dimensions.
A.
The minimum dimensions of a facility shall be determined by the size of the largest helicopter authorized to use it.
B.
The touchdown pad shall not be less than 1.5 times the tread by 1.5 times the wheelbase of the helicopter. Load-bearing capabilities of the pad shall be sufficient to accommodate the dynamic load expected.
C.
The touchdown area shall be symmetrical about the facility reference point and equal in size to the diameter of the helicopter.
D.
The landing and takeoff area shall be not less than 1.5 times the overall length of the largest helicopter to use the facility and shall be symmetrical about the touchdown area.
E.
A peripheral area or additional obstruction-free safety zone shall surround the landing and takeoff area and shall be a minimum width of 1/4 of the overall length of the largest helicopter being considered, but not less than 10 feet. A wind direction indicator may be installed in this area.
§ 150-224 Helicopter parking and taxiways.
A.
At least one remote parking position to accommodate the largest helicopter shall be provided within public use facilities. The frequency of operations may require additions. No helicopter shall remain parked within a landing and takeoff area during multiple operations.
B.
Taxiways shall provide a lateral clearance of not less than 10 feet between the main rotor tip of the taxiing helicopter and any object or hazard.
§ 150-225 Safety barriers and signs; exemptions.
A.
A fence or barrier, not less than three feet in height above ground, shall be installed along the outer edge of the peripheral area. When limited to three feet, such a barrier shall not be considered an obstruction for determining the approach/departure slope clearance.
B.
Where deemed necessary, a higher barrier may be installed. For such higher barrier, the rule set under N.J.S.A. 16:54-1.6(A)6 shall apply.
C.
Warning and identification signs shall be placed outside of the fenced area.
D.
Exemptions to the requirements for safety barriers and signs shall be based on N.J.S.A. 16:54-1.10, Petitions for exemption.
§ 150-226 Approach/departure paths.
A.
Approach/departure paths must be specified for each facility.
B.
Each facility shall have at least two approach/departure paths separated by an arc of not less than 90° measured at the edge of the landing and takeoff area. Curved paths may be necessary. The radius of the curve shall depend on the performance capabilities of the using helicopter and the limiting factors which affect the approach/departure path.
§ 150-227 Obstruction clearance.
A.
Obstruction clearance planes aligned with the direction of the approach/departure paths shall extend outward and upward from the edge of the landing and takeoff area to a safe altitude. The width of these planes shall coincide with the width of the landing and takeoff area and flare uniformly to a width equal to said landing and takeoff area plus 100 feet at 1,000 feet from the landing area boundary.
B.
The slope angle of the planes shall not be less than eight to one (8:1) (i.e., eight feet horizontally to one foot vertically) for all public use heliports. The slope angle of the planes for private use heliports/helistops shall be not less than five to one (5:1) when certified climb performance data for the using helicopter indicates that capacity under normal conditions. Where adequate performance data is not available, the slope angle shall be eight to one (8:1).
C.
Slide slope transitional surfaces for all facilities shall extend outward and upward from the lateral edges of the landing/takeoff area, on a line perpendicular to the approach/departure center line at a ratio of one to one (1:1) to a distance of 50 feet from the outermost edge of the landing/takeoff area; then along a line from the transitional surface to a point intersecting the outer edge of the approach/departure path where the slope rises to a height of 50 feet above the facility.
D.
These surfaces are established to provide an obstruction-free approach/departure route and should not be penetrated by an object or obstacle.
§ 150-228 Elevated facilities.
A.
The touchdown area for an elevated or rooftop facility shall be 40 feet by 40 feet or equal to 1.5 times the rotor diameter of the using helicopter, whichever is larger.
B.
The criteria established for a comparable ground level facility shall apply to determine the pad size, obstacle-free landing/takeoff area and approach/departure paths for an elevated facility, even though the imaginary planes may extend beyond the physical edges of the structure.
C.
The touchdown area shall be protected by a parapet fence or barrier not less than three feet in height. Where this is impractical or where interference with the safe operation of the helicopter is a factor, a safety net shall be installed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 16:54-1.6(A)7c, or as amended.
D.
The structural design load-bearing capability shall be certified prior to the issuance of a license.
§ 150-229 Visual aids.
A.
Heliport/helistop marking and lighting patterns outlined in the current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 150/-53901 shall apply. Additional lighting may be required for night operations.
B.
A wind indicator shall be installed close to the facility but not so as to be an obstacle or hazard to helicopter operations. Special treatment may be required for night operations.
§ 150-230 Zoning and location restrictions.
A.
Public use facilities shall be limited to existing operational public use airports or areas zoned I-1 (Industrial), B-3 (Business) and A-1 (Agricultural) Zones.
B.
Private use facilities may be located in I-1 (Industrial), B-3 (Business) and A-1 (Agricultural) Zones with the following limitations:
(1)
When located in areas abutting residential zones, the approach/departure paths shall remain outside of the residential zone.
(2)
If the facility is proposed in or within 400 feet of a residential zone, the applicant shall submit proof that such location has been approved by the Zoning and Planning Boards.
C.
Land areas zoned for multiple uses, such as residential/professional use, shall not be considered solely residential for the purpose of this regulation.
§ 150-231 Applications to municipal Board. [1]
The applicant seeking approval for a helicopter facility shall submit the following to the Planning Board at least two weeks prior to the date of a site plan review advisory Board meeting, for approval of the site improvements and conditional use permit:
A.
Six copies of the site plan (plus four copies if the plan must go to the County Planning Board).
B.
An illustration showing the proposed aeronautic operation. (See the following illustrations at the end of this chapter: Plate 1, Typical Heliport Layout; and Plate 2, Imaginary Surfaces for Heliport - Helistop Facility.)
C.
A copy of the completed application form.
[1]
Editor's Note: See the following illustrations at the end of this chapter: Plate 1, Typical Heliport Layout; and Plate 2, Imaginary Surfaces for Heliport - Helistop Facility.