- Denise Rockenstein
- Posted On
Clearlake Planning Commission approves REACH's new helipad plans at hospital
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Planning Commission approved a use permit Tuesday for construction of a new helipad at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.
The new helipad, which will replace the existing temporary aerial landing facility, will increase the number of types of helicopters able to land at the hospital.
Following adjournment of Tuesday's meeting, Commission Chairman Carl Webb said the upgraded facility is important in improving the area's health care services as currently there exists no trauma center within the county.
This, he said, requires many patients with serious injuries to be flown to out-of-county facilities for treatment and the new helipad will improve accommodations of equipment to service those patients.
According to Assistant City Planner Julie Burrows, the current landing zone allows for the use of a single type of helicopter.
She said four different types of helicopters will be able to land at the new facility.
REACH Air Medical Services will construct the new helistop on the hospital's property.
It will be located southeast of the main parking lot area, supported by steel columns, drilled piers and consist of a 43-foot by 43-foot metal helideck, lighting and fencing, ramp and stair access and underground utilities.
The current emergency landing site, which was established in the mid-1990s, was designated by the Lake County Fire Protection District under the condition that a new, safer Federal Aviation Administration-approved helistop be constructed. Burrows said the project satisfies that stipulation.
Burrows said the proposed helipad has been designed to accommodate air medical helicopters including Augusta Westland 109, Airbus EC135 and EC 145 and Bell 407 helicopters.
The design is based on FAA Circular 150/5390-2, Heliport Design. It will be lit with state-of-the-art LED technology controlled by the helicopter pilot prior to final approach.
Upon exiting the facility, the lights will automatically turn off. FAA-approved security and lighting will be installed.
The Lake County Fire Protection District expressed concern, in a written response to the proposal, for the design's lack of connection with the hospital's backup generator in such case of a power outage.
Burrows said a condition requiring that improvement plans for the project be submitted to the city building and engineering department for approval by the fire district addresses the district's concerns.
In addition, in approving the use permit application, the commission added a stipulation that requires an American Indian tribal monitor be present in the event ground disturbance occurs during construction.
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