Yorba Linda Seeks Regular Reviews of Edison Helipad Use

The City Council will ask the county for biennial reviews of Southern California Edison Co.’s use of a private helipad at the Diemer Water Treatment Plant to determine how the helicopter flights impact the area.

Edison is seeking the County Planning Commission’s permission to fly helicopters from the treatment plant off Valley View Avenue to inspect and maintain an adjacent transmission line corridor. The flights would cover an unincorporated area that Yorba Linda may eventually annex.

The County Planning Commission is slated to consider the request Wednesday. The City Council on Tuesday decided to recommend that the commission require, as a condition of approval, that the flights be reviewed every two years to ascertain their impact.

The Metropolitan Water District has periodically used the helipad over the last 10 years, according to city officials. Edison officials expect an average of five flights per month.

Flights would be prohibited on weekends, holidays and between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. during the week. Only six takeoffs and landings per day and 21 per month would be allowed.

In response to state and county parks officials’ concerns, Edison changed its proposed flight paths to avoid Carbon Canyon Regional Park except in emergencies and to lessen impacts on Chino Hills State Park. Flights passing over Carbon Canyon for emergencies must stay at least 1,000 feet above ground.

There is still some concern that the flights will affect future development on the Shell Oil property, which Yorba Linda may annex. The council agreed that routine reviews will help ascertain whether the flights are causing problems.

The council on Tuesday also approved the use of smaller directional signs to point customers toward out-of-the-way businesses.

Up to now, city laws only addressed signs used to regulate the flow of traffic. The council approved a law change allowing businesses to also be identified in directional signs, but the signs will be allowed only in commercial and industrial zones and the city Planning Commission must approve them.