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Cherokee County delays decision on revoking Rocky Lake Estates helipad after contested testimony
Summary
After hearing evidence of cited helipad violations and hearing extensive testimony from neighbors and the property owner, the Board voted unanimously to postpone any final action on revoking the helipad special‑use permit until its second meeting in February to allow time for review.
Cherokee County commissioners on Jan. 21 held a county‑initiated public hearing on whether to revoke the helipad special‑use permit at Rocky Lake Estates, then voted unanimously to postpone a final decision to the board’s second February meeting to allow further review.
Planning staff and Cherokee County Marshals presented the county’s case: they described the helipad permit (Resolution 2022R076) and cited two incidents—Oct. 22, 2023, and Jan. 20, 2024—where the Marshals allege the helicopter deviated from the permitted flight path, landed closer than the required 200 feet from an adjoining property line and violated the SUP conditions and county noise ordinance. Marshals said citations and accusations were forwarded to the solicitor general’s office.
Sergeant William King summarized the citations and the county’s reliance on condition 14 of the SUP, which allows the board to initiate revocation proceedings after violations of permit conditions.
Rocky Lake Estates owner Rocky Morris and counsel contested the use of criminal citations as the only remedy and said the incidents were isolated. Pilot Mike Russell described standard operating procedures and FAA altitude requirements and said wind and mechanical issues have contributed to difficult approaches. “It was a one‑time event,” Morris said of the most prominent landing cited by the county; he told the board he had added backup systems and taken steps to prevent repetition.
Residents living near the venue urged revocation, emphasizing safety concerns (trees, power lines and dense housing near the approach path), persistent noise, and the risk of a catastrophic accident. Several said helicopters flying near evenings and weekends were disruptive to daily life and raised the possibility that an accident could damage homes.
After public comment and question time, Commissioner Wetherbee moved to postpone final action until the Board’s second meeting in February to allow time to digest evidence and for staff and counsel to pursue other procedural or technical steps. The motion passed unanimously.
The board did not revoke the SUP at this meeting. The public record includes the SUP conditions (including limits on trip counts and hours, required flight path and setback requirements) and the citations that led to the revocation hearing; the board’s postponement leaves open administrative and legal remedies while affording additional time for review and, potentially, negotiated resolutions.
Authorities cited in the hearing included: Cherokee County Resolution 2022R076 (special use permit for Rocky Lake Estates helipad) and the Cherokee County Zoning Ordinance conditions attached to that resolution.
