F1 helipad upsets neighborhood

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After years of tolerating parking crunches and noise issues during events at Zilker Park, neighbors in the Barton Hills Neighborhood are drawing the line.

The neighborhood association has drafted a resolution protesting a temporary helipad that would be placed on top of a parking garage across Barton Creek at 901 S. MoPac Blvd.

“Surely around Austin there are other places to land helicopters,” said Neighborhood Watch program chairman John Luther.

A charter helicopter company has submitted a permit for use of the helipad during the Nov. 16 - 18 Formula One weekend and could potentially make as many as 60 to 70 liftoffs from the helipad per day.

The noise pollution along with the potential disturbance of the environment in Barton Creek Greenbelt makes a helipad more than what the neighborhood is willing to tolerate.

“Zilker Park has become ground zero for all for-profit promoters,” said Luther. “It is beautiful, I can’t blame them for that, but they’re loving it to death.”

Council members are expected to discuss the issue at the next Austin City Council meeting and the discussion could include the permitting process.

Barton Hills Neighborhood Association said they were not made aware of the proposed helipad.