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Zoning and Annexation Committee October 9, 2000 Page 3 same was reviewed by the APC staff on September 11, 2000 pursuant to South Bend Municipal Code § 21-112(a) (1) (Copy attached). Mr. Bruce Bancroft, the attorney for the Petitioner, then made the presentation. He noted that he would be presenting at the regular Common Council meeting this evening a petition signed by more than 1,000 in favor of the proposed special exception. The special exception would permit Memorial Hospital to construct a helistop. A helistop would permit a medical helicopter to load and unload severely ill or injured individuals and support medical staff at a close proximity to the ER/Trauma Center; it would NOT permit the storage, maintenance or fueling on site. It is proposed for the sixth(6th) floor of the parking garage which would require the hospital to build a fifth and sixth floor with 150 new parking spaces being provided. The helistop would be on the north end of the sixth floor. Mr. Bancroft noted that the substitute version of Bill No. 00-113 was filed after discussions last week with the Council Attorney who requested various health and safety conditions added to Section IV of the proposed Bill. The substitute bill incorporates those suggestions which include: that the helipad would be used only for the transportation of severely ill patients and required support staff; that the helipad would be subject to all applicable South Bend Emergency Medical Services Committee guidelines; that the helipad would be used in accordance with all applicable EMS Rules and Regulations established by state law;and that the helipad would be subject to all applicable FAA rules and regulations. He further noted that the petitioner would also comply with the Hy Neighborly Program guidelines which the Council Attorney also requested, with these guidelines addressing voluntary noise abatement rules. Mr. Bancroft stated that the FAA approved the flight patterns on August 11, 2000, with all flight paths being established by the FAA. He noted that the FAA has the exclusive jurisdiction in the area of flight safety. Mr Bancroft noted that Mr. Robert Synder of BSA Design,of Indianapolis, Indiana, would be making a further presentation on behalf of the petitioner,Memorial Hospital. He then reviewed the regional site plan with the committee (copy attached). He noted that Mr. Synder is an architect and that the project has been studied for approximately two(2) years at a cost of over$ 100,000 to the hospital. He noted that the article in today's edition of the 'out1j Vettir ZrtbttttW was not totally accurate and reviewed the site plan and an architectural rendering of the hospital campus for the Committee. He noted that there would be noise associated with the helistop, however it would not be overly disruptive comparing the noise to that of a City bus. It was noted that the noise would be less than that of an ambulance with its emergency siren on. There would be an average of one(1) flight per day with 70 % of those flights anticipated to be in the daylight hours. The air ambulance with have excellent personnel and equipment with two (2) experienced nurses and one (1) experienced paramedic in addition to the pilot. The operation would be seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day once operational. Mr. Bancroft noted that for a city the size of South Bend, that we are behind in this area of medical service and that currently air service is required from Fort Wayne and Kalamazoo. He stated that the helistop would provide a valuable service to the entire community which would not be detrimental to the immediate surrounding neighborhood of the hospital. He noted that the proposed site is the only viable site and that action on Substitute Bill No. 00-113 should not be delayed. He concluded that the adoption of the resolution approving the special exception would save result in hundreds of lives being saved each year. Mr. Robert Synder of BSA Design then reviewed the six (6) options studied by his Zoning