Commission recommends ordinance to clarify helicopter landings prohibited in city limits, leaves carve-outs for first responders and large lots

The Alpine City Planning Commission voted July 1 to recommend an ordinance (referred to in the meeting as ordinance 2025-11) that would clarify and tighten the city's existing prohibition on helicopter landings and takeoffs in city limits.

Ryan Robinson told the commission that current code ‘‘doesn't allow heliports’’ but that language contains gray areas allowing people to argue they are not operating a heliport. "We're just trying to... clean it up so we can actually enforce that," Robinson said. He described increased recent requests for private helicopter landings—some for weddings or private events—and reports of damage to yards and neighbor complaints.

Commissioners compared possible approaches used by other Utah municipalities (West Jordan and Park City were cited), including conditional-use permits, setbacks (one example cited: 1,000-foot buffer from the nearest residential building), and restricted operating hours (example: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Commissioners emphasized first-responder and emergency medical operations should be treated differently; several said emergency operations should be allowed to "trump" any prohibition.

Greg Butterfield moved to recommend approval of ordinance 2025-11 as presented; Michelle Shermer seconded. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Commissioners and staff said further refinements (conditional-use standards, lot-size carve-outs, or explicit permitting rules) could be drafted later if the council or community requests changes.