Key Takeaways
- • The Miami Beach Planning Board on Tuesday deferred its vote on Ken Griffin's proposed private helipad until Nov. 3, giving his team additional time to address neighbors' complaints.
- • The helipad would be added to Griffin's already approved 3.5-acre megayacht marina at 120 MacArthur Causeway on Terminal Island, which is designed to accommodate his 308-foot yacht, Defy.
- • Griffin's representatives say helicopter noise is overstated, citing studies of the Airbus H160 showing that 13 seconds of takeoffs and landings would be comparable to ordinary conversation on a nearby condo balcony; those findings have drawn skepticism.
- • Residents of eight waterfront luxury condo buildings, housing about 2,000 people, have organized opposition, with condo leaders urging officials to reject the plan.
- • The proposal earlier cleared the Miami Beach Land Use and Sustainability Committee on a 2-1 vote in September, but Commissioner Joe Magazine has advised the applicant to spend more time addressing residents' concerns.
Summary
Miami billionaire Ken Griffin, the founder of Citadel, is getting another month to address opposition to his plan for a private helipad at his megayacht marina on Miami Beach's Terminal Island. According to the Miami Herald, the Miami Beach Planning Board on Tuesday deferred the proposal until Nov. 3, giving Griffin's team additional time to respond to complaints from nearby residents who say chopper noise could disrupt their quality of life.
The helipad would be added to a 3.5-acre megayacht marina at 120 MacArthur Causeway that has already been approved and is designed to accommodate Griffin's 308-foot yacht, Defy. The application is being pursued through Griffin's company, One Island Partners, which is represented by attorney Neisen Kasdin. Kasdin said the team was "in favor of deferring this issue to the November meeting to allow us more time for community outreach and testing."
Griffin's representatives maintain that noise concerns are overstated. Noise studies commissioned by the team, involving the Airbus H160 helicopter Griffin plans to use, found that noise from the roughly 13 seconds of takeoffs and landings would be comparable to an ordinary conversation on a nearby condominium balcony. Those findings have been met with skepticism from residents.
Opposition has been organized by residents of eight waterfront luxury high-rise condominiums off the MacArthur Causeway, just south of Fifth Street, which house about 2,000 people. Condo leaders have urged Miami Beach officials to reject the helipad. Earlier in the process, in September, the Miami Beach Land Use and Sustainability Committee voted 2-1 to approve the heliport request and forward it to the planning department and ultimately the full City Commission. Commissioner Joe Magazine, however, advised Kasdin to spend more time hearing and addressing residents' concerns, and the deferral reflects that guidance.
The helipad would be added to a 3.5-acre megayacht marina at 120 MacArthur Causeway that has already been approved and is designed to accommodate Griffin's 308-foot yacht, Defy. The application is being pursued through Griffin's company, One Island Partners, which is represented by attorney Neisen Kasdin. Kasdin said the team was "in favor of deferring this issue to the November meeting to allow us more time for community outreach and testing."
Griffin's representatives maintain that noise concerns are overstated. Noise studies commissioned by the team, involving the Airbus H160 helicopter Griffin plans to use, found that noise from the roughly 13 seconds of takeoffs and landings would be comparable to an ordinary conversation on a nearby condominium balcony. Those findings have been met with skepticism from residents.
Opposition has been organized by residents of eight waterfront luxury high-rise condominiums off the MacArthur Causeway, just south of Fifth Street, which house about 2,000 people. Condo leaders have urged Miami Beach officials to reject the helipad. Earlier in the process, in September, the Miami Beach Land Use and Sustainability Committee voted 2-1 to approve the heliport request and forward it to the planning department and ultimately the full City Commission. Commissioner Joe Magazine, however, advised Kasdin to spend more time hearing and addressing residents' concerns, and the deferral reflects that guidance.
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