Newport Coast Heliport Plan Opposed : Development: Irvine Co. proposal for transporting golfers and hotel guests would mean excessive noise and danger, area residents tell county airport commission.

Residents upset over an Irvine Co. plan to build a heliport in the Newport Coast development told a county commission Thursday night that they feared the helicopters would be both dangerous and noisy.

Barbara E. Lichman, a resident of Dover Shores, said the helicopters “have to come from somewhere and they have to fly over our homes on the way to the ocean from the (heliport). We’re concerned about how high they will be flying and how noisy they will be.”

Several dozen residents presented the Airport Land Use Commission with a petition signed by about 150 people opposed to the Irvine Co.’s proposal to fly up to 150 helicopter trips per month over Crystal Cove State Beach and the nearby Pelican Hill Golf Course.

The heliport is intended to serve hotel guests, golfers and Newport Coast residents going to Southern California airports or other destinations.

Helicopters would approach the heliport, on a future hotel site half a mile from any existing home, from over the ocean, passing Newport Coast Drive at Pacific Coast Highway and flying over a portion of the golf course, said Ed Mountford, an Irvine Co. spokesman. Helicopters “would not be flying over homes,” he said.

“It’s always been envisioned that there would be a (heliport) in the development,” he said. By 1998, when four hotels, 2,600 homes and two golf courses are expected to be built, demand for the helicopters would probably increase to 250 flights per month, he said. At that time, the Airport Land Use Commission will again be asked to review such a proposal, he said.

For now, the Irvine Co. wants approval from the county for the 150 trips, with a maximum of 20 flights per day between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The county Airport Land Use Commission postponed a decision until their October meeting to allow the company time to meet with residents to further discuss the proposal.

If the commission approves the request, it then goes to the Orange County Planning Commission for approval.

So far, the plan has approval from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Marine Corps, which said the proposed flight pattern does not interfere with other routes.

“Since the FAA and the Marine Corps say the helicopters won’t interfere with air space, it’s my opinion that the commission will have no reason to not approve it,” Commission Chairman Herman Beverburg said before the meeting Thursday. “The county (planning) commissioners can hold hearings to override our advice, though.”

But Mayor Phil Sansone said he has been receiving dozens of calls from residents upset about the proposal.

“I think the residents are right. I think (the Irvine Co.) will water down their proposal considerably with that kind of opposition,” he said.

Resident Earl Halliberton told the commissioners Thursday that Newport Beach residents are “truly being impacted by a lot of noise. I’m saddened to hear that the Irvine Co. wants to add to that. “

Shorecliffs resident Per Trebler said he “would like to know exactly where the helicopters will fly. I’m concerned that they’ll be flying over my house. What need it serves is relatively unimportant, so why risk safety and noise?”

Arthur Negrette, a consultant to the Irvine Co., said that the helicopters will be flying “very high” and that noise will be “very minimal.” The audience laughed.

Jean Robertson, who lives in Corona Highlands, said: “We are going to have more pollution and noise just to save a few wealthy people a few minutes. Why can’t they take limousines like the rest of us?”