Boulder City planning commission recommends allowing private heliports in limited R-180 lots

The Boulder City Planning Commission on Feb. 18 voted to recommend approval of a zoning text amendment that would permit private heliports as a conditional use in the city’s R‑180 residential zoning district, the commission announced after a public hearing and brief deliberation.

City planning manager Nikisha Lyon told the commission staff recommends the change only as a regulatory pathway, not approval of a specific landing pad. Lyon said the draft ordinance would require a letter of determination from the Federal Aviation Administration confirming the heliport would not adversely affect airspace, permit flight operations only between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., require a minimum 500‑foot separation from any adjoining residential or noise‑sensitive property boundary, and limit operations to the property owner or an occupant (no commercial or charter operations). The staff report also relied on an independent noise model prepared for the city to evaluate potential impacts.

The amendment was proposed by property owner Casey Craig for his 11.65‑acre lot at 1001 Villa Grande Way. Craig said an FAA determination is ‘on file with the city’ and described planned mitigation, including a 40‑by‑40 concrete pad, a compacted gravel perimeter, a hangar and walls he expects to reduce sound exposure beyond the modeled 500‑foot setback. “FAA approval … is on file with the city,” Craig said during his presentation.

Neighbors and technical witnesses split on the proposal. Supporters — including nearby homeowners who submitted letters, an aviation‑experienced neighbor and the applicant’s civil engineer, Sean Fleming — told the commission the site’s topography, the 500‑foot setback and the limited, daytime‑only nature of operations would keep noise within the Boulder City noise ordinance limits. As one supporter who submitted a written statement put it, the city’s noise contours show modeled daytime operations keep sensitive noise levels on the subject property.

Opponents said the proposal would disrupt a quiet residential neighborhood and questioned real‑world noise. Resident Steve Hampton, who said he lives at 111 Stone Canyon, urged commissioners to hear a live demonstration and described an earlier flyover: “We couldn’t hear ourselves talk to each other,” he said. Another nearby resident, Casey Gallagher, said she feared the heliport could lower property values and that the issue has divided neighbors.

Commissioners stressed this was a text amendment: the change would only create a regulatory pathway. Chair Crum noted further approvals would be required if an owner pursues a conditional‑use permit, building permits and any required fire and drainage reviews, and that operating violations could lead to revocation of a permit.

A commissioner moved and another seconded a motion “to approve resolution 127” to recommend the text amendment to City Council; members voted by voice and the chair announced, “Motion carries.” The commission record does not show a roll‑call tally read into the minutes. The matter will be forwarded to the Boulder City Council for final consideration under the city’s public hearing and ordinance adoption process.

The Planning Commission also received a brief development‑allotments update and closed the meeting following a final public‑comment period.