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Eagle Sightings Delay Helicopter Pad Hearing

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By STEPHEN HAMMILL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

KEYSTONE - Auto dealer Ernie Haire has requested a continuance of a public hearing to determine whether he can build a helicopter pad on his property at Keystone Lake.

The hearing, scheduled for Feb. 1, has been moved to March 28.

A recommendation to reject the permit request was filed this week by Keith Wiley, environmental scientist on the county's Natural Resources staff, after reports from neighbors pertaining to sightings of bald eagles.

When informed of Wiley's recommendation, Haire asked to push back his hearing and agreed to perform a wildlife survey of his property. He will hire a private consultant who will report findings to Wiley.

The wildlife survey will attempt to verify direct observations of bald eagles using the lake. Typically, bald eagles are afforded a 1,000-foot buffer from new development, Wiley said.

"There was a concern that there may be a credible issue here," said Tom Hiznay, senior planner with Hillsborough County and reviewer of Haire's permit request.

Haire is seeking permission to build a helicopter pad on his 5-acre property at 17909 Crawley Road, in a relatively rural section of the county.

Jim Swain, president of the Lake Keystone Property Owners Association, said he doesn't like the idea of Haire paying for the survey because, "you can have people say what you want them to."

Swain's home, on the east side of Keystone Lake across from Haire's property, sits directly under the proposed approach path for a helicopter.

Reporter Stephen Hammill can be reached at (813) 865-1523 or at shammill@tampatrib.com.

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