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Lower Pottsgrove approves zoning amendment to allow hospital use; hearing raises helicopter noise concerns
Summary
The board adopted Ordinance 368 to add a hospital use to the Gateway Mixed‑Use district after a public hearing where a developer and neighbors pressed the township about potential helicopter flight paths and noise; officials said flight paths are set by the FAA and PennDOT Aviation.
The Lower Pottsgrove Township Board of Commissioners on July 1 adopted Ordinance 368, amending the Gateway Mixed‑Use (GMU) zoning to allow a hospital use at the Sanatoga interchange. The vote was 4‑0 after a public hearing and discussion.
Solicitor Richard Almquist opened the hearing and presented the advertised ordinance before taking public comment. Jim Tornetta of Sanatoga Land Holdings read a letter saying the principals support a hospital at the Sanatoga interchange but asked the board to consider conditions on helicopter flight paths and approaches, arguing helicopters “can be very loud” and “will render their proposed hotel and apartment units considerably devalued.” He requested approaches be routed over Sanatoga Park or Sanatoga Greene Apartments to avoid noise impacts on his properties.
President Raymond W. Lopez and Commissioner William Keohane responded that flight paths are controlled by the Federal Aviation Administration and PennDOT Aviation and that the township lacks authority to set approach routes. “The Board of Commissioners has no control over the flight path,” Lopez said, adding that routes should prioritize the patient’s safety. Solicitor Almquist reiterated FAA jurisdiction. Alyson Zarro, counsel for the applicant, said the evening’s hearing was limited to the zoning text amendment and that operational issues such as flight frequency and helipad procedures would be addressed later in land‑development reviews.
Ted Drauschak of Castle Sanatoga LLC cited a letter from FEC Heliports stating flight paths are designed to meet FAA standards and that pilots are trained to follow “fly friendly” practices when possible; he said more detailed plans would come later in the review process. The public hearing closed at 6:16 p.m.
Commissioner Robert Mohollen moved to adopt Ordinance 368; Commissioner Michael McGroarty seconded the motion and it passed unanimously, 4‑0. The board did not attach operational limits or flight‑path conditions as part of the zoning amendment.
Next steps: adopting the text amendment allows the hospital use as a permitted option in the GMU zoning; any site plan, helipad design or operational plan will be reviewed in subsequent land‑development or permitting processes subject to FAA and PennDOT oversight.
