East End Residents Blast New Helicopter Proposal, Elected Officials Weigh In

NORTH FORK, NY-Days after a longtime Greenport business owner asked the village board to consider allowing him to site a helipad on his property, some incensed members of the East End public are expressing outrage.

Last week, Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard said he and Village Administrator Paul Pallas had met with Walter Gezari, owner of STIDD Systems, Inc. on Carpenter Street, who asked to build the helipad for his personal business purposes.

The news did not sit well with the many on the East End who have been protesting tirelessly for years about helicopter noise and its impact on residents’ quality of life.

“Once a heliport is built in a beautiful, scenic, and historic area like Greenport, there is no turning back. The village board cannot dictate, regulate or enforce the following: number of takeoffs and landings, a flight path in or out of the helipad, flight altitude while en route or for landings and departures over businesses, homes or over the tranquil waterfront,” said Mattituck resident Teresa McCaskie, who sits on the Southold Town helicopter noise committee.

“The village board also cannot limit the amount of time an engine is kept running, limit the toxic exhaust fumes from each helicopter, limit the hours of operation, nor can the village board dictate for any helicopter owner to purchase a ’quieter’ helicopter. Furthermore, any village code change opens the door for other commercial helicopter operators to set up shop in Greenport,” she added.

McCaskie said the “simple solution is for Gezari to focus solely on using his fixed wing aircraft for his business and private needs. Greenport is a beautiful waterfront town that hundreds of people flock to for its charm, beauty, history, fantastic restaurants, quaint shops and beautiful carousel. This is a family town and every effort should be made to protect it from the possibility of it becoming the ’New Montauk’ in the not so distant future should a heliport be built.”

Last week, Gezari told Patch that was, indeed, his intention — to use the helicopter solely for his personal business needs.

“The helipad is to be used for the company helicopter,” Gezari said. “It’s used for daily missions, to pick up clients, materials, and the furtherance of the business. It’s made an enormous difference in our growth, and it’s the reason why we can now expand, fix the bulkhead and hire more people.”

The helicopter, he said, “is a force multiplier. It’s been a game changer. That’s why we are doing this. We need a place to land the helicopter, otherwise we will look for another place.”

Elected officials weigh in

Southold Town Councilman Bob Ghosio, liaison to the the Southold helicopter committee, voiced his concerns: “The Southold helicopter committee is adamantly against any proposals to increase the use of helicopters around the North Fork. The burden we already carry with the onslaught of commercial flights to and from East Hampton has severely damaged the tolerance our residents have to accept more noise from helicopters. That said, I know Mr. Gezari to be a brilliant businessman and am excited to know he is planning to expand his business and create jobs. Whether or not he can come up with a plan to get approval for a helicopter pad that mitigates the residents’ concerns remains to be seen.”

In East Hampton, Kathy Cunningham of the Quiet Skies Coalition also weighed in: “Balancing the need for economic opportunity and the health, safety and welfare of the community can be a delicate enterprise for elected officials, but the latter should always take precedence”, she said.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said he’d need additional information. “I won’t venture into Greenport Village zoning matters, however, any business owner who plans on creating new jobs, especially career opportunities, would be good news to me. Obviously, if the business is re-located to Mattituck my real concern would be if future plans call for, not just a new owner’s business needs but, a landing site for commercial helicopter operators. I would want to know more.”

Fears over precedent setting

Adam Irving, who has a house in Orient but lives in Jersey City, also sits on Southold Town’s helicopter committee. “At the end of the day, I think the biggest issue is that a lot of people don’t understand — if he’s going to be doing takeoffs and landings from his property, that’s going to open a can of worms. This impacts not only Greenport but the whole North Fork. Every other commercial operator will try to figure out as fast as they can how to set up shop. That’s a nightmare. Commercial operators are licking their chops to get to the North Fork. It’s easy money.”

It’s the matter of setting precedent that has Irving concerned — as well as the impacts of noise to neighbors. “To think that this guy will just sweep in a couple times a week and no one will know the difference, that’s fantasyland.”

The loudest part of a helicopter, Irving continued, is takeoff; even if the helicopter flies over water, noise will still be an issue, he said.

For those who are concerned about the short-term rentals, as well as the sale of Claudio’s and the Soundview, Irving said allowing a helipad will hasten a forever change in the character of the area: “If you want to put that change onto the fast track, let the community get a helipad. It’s a deal with the devil.”

Village Mayor George Hubbard said restrictions would be written to ensure that the helipad would be used only for Gezari’s private use.

But Irving is fearful that even if restrictions were written, the owner could fly in and out at his own discretion, on Friday nights or at 2 a.m. The Federal Aviation Administration, is concerned with safety — but also, the promotion of aviation. “It’s the Wild West. You can do whatever you want.”

Irving also pointed to a lawsuit involving Gezari in Riverhead Town over flying his helicopter which was later resolved.

Gezari told Patch that he does not fly his helicopter to and from his home and has no intention of ever doing so. “I do not fly from my home in Calverton. I take off and land at an airport in Suffolk County, a FAA designated airport. I have no intention of flying from my home in Calverton anywhere.”

Bob Bittner also spoke out fiercely against the plan: “This will open a can of worms. Additionally, the noise and vibration will decrease property values and quality of life.” He added, “No airport of any kind — no more.”

Plans for Greenport

Last week, Hubbard outlined Gezari’s plans for expanding his parcel.

“He has big plans for his property,” Hubbard said, including taking out the old Cooper’s Fish Processing Co. building and building a new warehouse, as well as repairing the bulkhead.

Plans for expansion, Hubbard said, include the creation of 10 new jobs, in addition to the 12 that STIDD currently provides, for a total of 22 jobs in the village.

The mayor emphasized the helipad would be only for Gezari’s personal use, with zoning restrictions that will be written in to the site plan.

”It’s not like we’re opening an airport in Greenport. It’s for his use only,” he said.

If he does not get the okay, Hubbard said Gezari told him he would like to buy the Mattituck airport, which is for sale, so he can commute. The STIDD business would then be moved out of Greenport to Mattituck, Hubbard said.

Hubbard said in order for the plan to proceed, Gezari would need to receive New York State and Federal Aviation Administration approval, and go before the Greenport planning and zoning boards.

Gezari has said he will fly over water before landing in Greenport, he said.

The plan would mean Gezari would spend approximately $20 million for the expansion, afford 12 new high-paying jobs, in addition to the 10 that exist, with a 401K plan and benefits.

The mayor said nothing was being decided right away; he said he’d contact Gezari again by the end of the month for further discussion.

Hubbard said he’s considered the jobs the idea would create. “At first I was skeptical but in reality, it would be really good. It would cleanup the waterfront and keep it a working waterfront, and create good-paying jobs.”

The mayor added that the dire need for jobs is a key concern, and the proposal could help to keep the economy vibrant and provide work for locals.

Greenport resident Bill Swiskey raised some concerns about helicopter noise and vibrations. “I don’t mind helicopters but I think before you vote you should send a note to everyone who lives on Bay or Central Avenues so they can come ito a meeting. Heliopters can raise a hell of a racket.”

Patch file photo.