Commissioners unanimously voted to recommend denial of the landing area located at 250 Simmons Road during an Aug. 7 meeting.
The gist
Bill Scrivner, the owner of the property, requested a rezoning of the 15 acres to allow for a 5-home development that would also include two fishing ponds and a soccer field, which would double as the helicopter landing pad. In a letter to the commission, Scrivner said the helistop could also double as an emergency landing site for a medical helicopter.
Tyler Frisby, a representative for the applicant from Frisby Enterprises, said the requested specific-use permit for the helistop would only accommodate air traffic between 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. He added that there would be no storage of the helicopter nor would there be refueling, maintenance or repairs done on the site.
The site would likely be used between eight and 12 times per year, Frisby said.
A separate request to rezone the property to allow for the proposed residential development received a recommendation for approval, with the condition that one lot be zoned for agriculture-type 2 and the other four lots to the ranch estates zoning district. A separate request to subdivide the property into five lots received a recommendation for denial.
What they’re saying
Several residents attended the meeting to voice their opposition to the project, citing noise and compatibility concerns.
“We are fortunate to live in a quiet area with trees and wildlife,” said Dr. Elizabeth Buell, a Double Oak resident. “This kind of activity would permanently disturb that balance, degrading not only our peace and safety, but the environment around us.”
Geoff Reeves, a friend of Scrivner and McKinney resident, said the concerns presented by residents were based on fear.
“There is no cement pad, no lights going in and it’s not going to become a super highway for travel over your community, which you’re worried about,” Reeves said. “This is the occasional landing of a helicopter a handful of times a year.”
Some context
A similar request was unanimously denied by Flower Mound officials in February, according to previous reporting by Community Impact.
Similar to Double Oak’s residents, Flower Mound community members raised concerns about noise.
What’s next
Double Oak Town Council is expected to consider the three requests at its meeting Aug. 18.
