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The Hearing examiner has overturned the basis for Charlie Conner’s Temporary Helicopter Use Permit. My understanding is that he will now have to cease helicopter operations (possibly with a ten day grace period… I’m still checking on the process.)
The complete Hearing Examiner’s record is given Here
I read through the decision, and generally agree with much of the reasoning, but there is one point I have a question on. (Please note that this permit was originally issued under the previous administration–which you know my opinion of — and I was never consulted. So I have no strong bias either way on this topic)
I’ll keep that to myself until I check on it, but meanwhile I would be interested on other’s opinions.
?!?
What do the Mukleshoots have to do with this?
“Mr. Conner states that the concern of the Muckleshoots is with the
construction or clearing for a helipad rather than simply landing on an existing surface”
This is a decision for Renton to decide, not a bunch of racist casino pimps.
Anyways……..
Conner’s attourney is an ass. Telling people that they don’t have stanting and playing games by delaying the hearing.
I’m not impresessed with Conner building the pad and then asking for forgivness. Typical developer behaviour. Sound familier Randy?
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I see no valid reason to deny him the permit, the motorcycles gunning down the street @ 2am is much more annoying.
It does seems the attitude turned off people.
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What’s a bit troubling about the decision is that the pro/con of lakefront helicopter use was explored – and basically put aside…. and the helicopter was denied because of environmental problems. Get real…. Lake Washington is a sewer dumping ground, helicopters aren’t going to hurt it.
I’m hoping that noisy motorcycles are still around when I’m in my crazy senile stage of life – It will give me something to shoot at.
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I agree but i guess we have no rights that cant be taken away in this city any more.
I think Connor needs to get a real loud floatplane and jet boat, and essentially give the whiners the big ol’ finger by operating them early in the morning. I’m not sure that Renton would really have any jurisdiction over a float plane taking off in the middle of the lake — or mooring the float plane similar to a boat to his dock.
or do like on the Sopranos
When Tony couldn’t get out of a waterfront house deal, he put earnest money down on, he had some of his crew anchor a pleasure boat offshore and blast Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra songs all-day and night.
Helicopter harassment
Randy,
It’s 3:00 AM, Tuesday morning. Again, I’ve been awakened by I think Charlie Conner doing touch and goes in the pattern. He did the same thing last Friday night for over 4 hours. WTF. Who is this guy doing night ops in a helicopter for hour on end. It’s bad enough that we have news helicopters that hover over the top of us to video traffic slow downs, but to have some completely vindictive ass wipe hovering over us working stiffs in the middle of the night when most normal people sleep is going WAY TOO FAR. If this continues, this helipopter driver is going to have an angry mob meeting him at his car one morning. Ooops, here he comes again. Let me don my ear protection. Did I mention that this guy is a complete ass hole. I have little kids in the house that have school in the morning and they can’t make up for this by drinking coffee.
Randy, you and the City need to investigate this jerk. This guy is the talk of the town in a bad way and he needs to be brought into line. I understand that it is perfectly legal for him to be flying over my house any time he likes, but we live in a civilization that has social norms, and he’s busted right through those norms. If he’s not pressed by the City to stop, the citizenery that has been denied sleep might just take matters into their own hands. I have half a mind to go down to the airport right now, look for this moron’s car and disassemble it right there in the parking lot. Of course the other half of my mind says for me to stay cool. I just hope that someone closer to the airport doesn’t get really pissed and take matters into their own hands.
Re: Helicopter harassment
Update: It’s 4:00 AM and he’s finally quit flying. Probably because the sun is coming up soon and he doesn’t want to be seen. I drove down to the airport to see for myself what the heck was going on and I couldn’t believe it. The helicopter is giving out rides to people. Every landing, the guy parks, a group of people exit the helicopter and a new group jumps in. They even have a couple of guys in orange vests presiding over this operation. Really weird if it’s a conspiricy. Anyway, the helicopter is flying out of World Winds and was parked, ironically, right next to the Sherrif’s helicopter. It a 3 color bird. Red on top, white in the middle and blue down below. The colors seem to be about equally spaced. I couldn’t make out a tail number on it, as the field lights were too bright to allow me to see much. Just really strange though. Next time this happens, I think that if we all got off our duffs and drove down to World Winds, we could have a nice little protest down there. Or, we could find someone to talk to and find out why they are flying in the middle of the night. I just can’t understand someone’s motivation to act like this. It’s beyond me. He’s obviously got way too much money to burn.
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Please note that another local resident has complained about the night helicopter operations. I understand this is not Charlie Conners.
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On Friday, there were 2 helicopters circling the area repeatedly from the airport then up along Kennydale then over to West Hill and back again in a continuous circle. They went on for hours. About 11 p.m. I finally went outside to see what was going on and they just kept circling and circling. I had a major presentation to make Saturday morning and needed a good night’s sleep. They were still circling at midnight. I finally called 911 to see if there was some police activity or something requiring helicopters circling and was told it was Renton High School’s graduation night and that’s why the helicopters were up there. Sheesh! Was there fear the high school grads were going to do something destructive? I finally put earplugs in just to try and get some sleep. I don’t know who it was up there but it was incredibly inconsiderate. Randy, are you able to find out who this is/was that’s been causing all the noise and report back?
Thanks!
Elizabeth
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I’ve heard from another sleepless resident that someone was giving helicopter rides to Renton High School students. If so, the intention may have been nice, but I have no idea why they would have chosen to do it in the middle of the night.
At this point I have not confirmed this, but I will ask at city hall.
Do any other readers have any other information?
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Mike O’Leary is a great guy, but he should know that helicopters at all hours of the night are going to be disruptive. He knows the “fly friendly” position of our city. This isn’t acceptable. Below are items from the Airport’s webpage. At least this only goes through June 20, but who approved this activity in the first place so this got onto the City’s website? Whatever happened to graduating seniors having their all-night party in their gymnasium or at the local bowling alley, etc?
Voluntary Noise Abatement
Noise abatement procedures at the Renton Municipal Airport are voluntary measures by pilots to “fly friendly” and be good neighbors to the citizens who live under aircraft flight paths. Pilots should deviate from these procedures only when necessary to comply with any Air Traffic Control requests or in the interest of safety.
This is on the Airport’s web page.
Increased Helicopter Operations
Please be aware that there will be increased night-time helicopter operations, due to local drug and alcohol-free graduation parties, starting June 6 through June 20, 2008. For more information, please see the article below, by Renton Magazine, featuring one of our local helicopter businesses.
Renton Magazine – WorldWind Helicopter May 2008 Article
Re: Helicopter harassment
Get a life…..
Re: Helicopter harassment
Dear Mr. Anonymous,
I am sorry for your sleepless night caused by helicopter noise over your Kennydale home. Who would not be unhappy in that situation even if the intentions were to keep high school seniors away from drinking and driving on graduation night? I too have just spent a sleepless night wondering how a person can post comments as you have. You make threats and call names without knowing anything except that you were being kept awake. Charlie Conner is as nice a person as you will find anywhere. He is conscientious, considerate, generous and caring. That is why I am marrying him in Aug. He is successful because he has worked hard since he was 14. We have strong support from an overwhelming majority of our neighbors because his helicopter operation is pretty much a non issue for the people who can hear or see it. A couple minutes of noise 3 – 4 times a month is insignificant when tossed in the mix with lawn mowers, jet skis, 737s, etc.
Even sleep deprived did you really think that someone working with the city on a zoning change allowing us to use our property the same way that boat and float plane owners do would go flying over Kennydale in the middle of the night? Bed time around here is generally 10 pm.
I have to hope that you feel a little badly about your false accusations. Even though we tell our kids about “sticks and stones” names do hurt. This entire controversy has been kept alive by a very few who continue to spread misinformation. As we have said from day one we would be happy to speak with anyone who has concerns but only if they promise not to disassemble our car.
Anne Simpson
annesimpson@comcast.net
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Dear Ms Simpson, I just want to assure you that I have posted NO comments on this blog site referring to the helicopters flying around the other night. I do not think that Charlie would pull a stunt like that!!he may be a lot of things but he is not an idiot! Joanie Rosling
There have been a lot of military helicopters over Renton in all areas this month in the middle of the night just doing routine things this happens at least once every two weeks many times at night
Conner Helicopter is not disruptive to Neighbors
It is really sad that people are so emotional and hostile that they make wild, untrue statements. The clear majority of the 25 homes on Charlie Conner’s Street have NEVER BEEN DISTURBED by his infrequent helicopter use. Only one party on our street has complained. Now if his flying was disruptive– don’t you think we would all be up in arms? Charlie flies only during limited, daytime hours, so as not to disturb neighbors. People have falsely blamed Charlie for high school graduation night helicopter rides for kids that he was not a part of, fire department and military drills, and departure of eagles and salmon which has absolutely not occurred. He is a class act who has contributed much to our community.
Marlene Winter– Mountain View Neighbor