SEA BRIGHT — The Borough Council is taking steps to legitimize an operating helistop on Route 36.
At its Oct. 17 council meeting the governing body voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance allowing helistops as a conditional use in the borough’s R-2 residential zone. The minimum lot size in the zone is 4,000 square feet and approved conditional uses are real estate and insurance offices, public buildings, professional office uses and public or private schools.
The borough’s R-2 zone in the southern part of the borough runs from Embry Avenue down to Monmouth Beach on the west side of Route 36.
In the northern part of the borough the zone runs from the Rumson bridge north to the Atlantic Highlands Bridge on the west side of Route 36 with the exception of 15 lots.
If approved, the ordinance would allow the existing helistop used by borough resident Michael O’Shea and Rumson resident John Mulheren to operate legally after receiving Planning Board approval.
The site, next door to Tim McLoone’s Rum Runner, has been operating since 1984 when the council passed a resolution granting O’Shea and Mulheren the right to use the site to travel to and from New York.
According to Mayor Gregory Harquail, the site is now primarily used by Mulheren and members of his family.
Over the years it also has been used in emergencies.
Under the terms of the ordinance a helistop is defined as: "an area of land utilized for the landing and take-off of helicopters for noncommercial and emergency purposes. A helistop shall not provide for, nor include, fueling or maintenance of helicopters. Helicopters shall not be parked at the helistop except when loading and discharging passengers."
Harquail explained that the definition would separate the use of the site from what he said would be better termed a heliport, which would have uses beyond pickup and delivery.
The ordinance also requires the site to meet all Federal Aviation Administration and N.J. Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics guidelines for sites used as helistops and that such sites be subject to inspections by those agencies.
The ordinance also would limit nonemergency use of the site to a maximum of four flights per day (two landings and two takeoffs) between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., except in declared emergencies.
Emergency use can be declared by the mayor, chief of police, deputy chief of police or their designees.