Jan. 23--OGDEN -- Guests at Ogden Valley ski resorts soon may have a chance to go quickly from sitting by the fireplace to hitting untouched powder under the whirl of helicopter blades.
On Jan. 3 the Weber County Commission approved an ordinance adjusting zoning laws to allow heliports near ski resorts in the valley, but restricting them from the valley floor.
The amended ordinance establishes elevation and property-size requirements, said Sean Wilkinson, senior planner of the Weber County Planning Division. The amendment specifically affects Destination and Resort zones and Forest-40 zones.
Future heliports will be in safer, more appropriate places, commissioners said.
"We think it's actually a good ordinance now, to accommodate heliports and the public up there," County Commissioner Craig Dearden said.
A developer out of Park City is the first to apply for a heliport permit, proposing to place the heliport in a planned subdivision. The planning commission will review the application Tuesday.
"Now that the ordinance is defined and in place, we anticipate receiving an application soon for a heliport based upon the new regulations," said Wilkinson. "If the application is approved by the planning commission on Jan. 24, we do anticipate the proposed heliport operating for this ski season."
The process to amend the ordinance began when Red Moose Lodge in Eden commissioned Diamond Peaks Heli-Ski Adventures to pick up skiers at the hotel.
Although the heli-ski company operates independently, Diamond Peaks Vice President Craig Olsen said he likes contracting with hotels and resorts.
"It's just nice when we can tie ourselves to anybody," Olsen said.
In February 2010, Diamond Peaks and the owner of Red Moose Lodge submitted a conditional-use permit application to operate a heliport. The intent of the operation was to use the lodge as the pick-up and drop-off location. A helicopter would pick up clients, fly them to private land in the surrounding area for a day of skiing and return them to the lodge.
Olsen said the service is another amenity that resorts can offer their guests.
"Who wouldn't want to be picked up in a helicopter?" Olsen said. Instead of driving out to an airport hangar, resorts can have guests picked up at the front door.
However, residents in the area complained of the noise and safety issues, saying the heliport was too close to homes, a middle school and a number of businesses.
Eden resident Lee Schussman is one of those who approached the county with his concerns.
He said there needed to be balance between the needs of businesses and the needs of the residents. As the issue continued, Schussman and other residents applied to the county to remove the heliports from CV2 zoning.
The Ogden Valley Planning Commission held a public meeting to consider whether CV2 zoning for the heliport operation should be allowed, but voted to table the application until the applicants could provide more information on such issues as noise, safety, flight paths and wildlife impacts. The applicants brought additional information to the planning commission in early 2011, but were denied again.
The applicants appealed to the Weber County Commission, which upheld the planning commission's decision.
"However, they made it clear that while this use may not be appropriate at the Red Moose Lodge, it may be appropriate elsewhere in the Ogden Valley," Wilkinson said, "and they needed to put their heads together to come up with another solution."
After months of research, study and negotiations, the new ordinance was put before the County Commission at the beginning of January for final approval.
The ordinance contains strict regulations and guidelines as to the placement of a heliport.
"The 6,200-foot elevation is established as the defining line between the valley floor and the mountains in the Destination and Recreation Resort zone ordinance and is also used in this ordinance," Wilkinson said.
Schussman said he is happy with the compromise that can support business needs while addressing safety, noise and other Ogden Valley residents' concerns.
"I think Weber County has done a good job in planning for the future so legitimate helicopter business can operate here, but they will have less impact on the residents."
Standard-Examiner correspondent Anita Kersey contributed to this article.
Copyright 2012 - Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah
