Prohibition of helicopter landings on private property – enacted over the objections of NVLSA.
Staff and County Supervisors argued that since helicopter landings are a land use not specifically allowed under the existing zoning ordinance, they are therefore already prohibited, and thus the helicopter ban is just a clarification, rather than a new restriction.
Disputing this analysis, NVLSA pointed out that motorcycles, bicycles, private cars, taxis, limousines, and tour buses are not specifically allowed under the zoning ordinance, but no one suggests that they are prohibited, so how can we say omission equals prohibition in the case of helicopters?
Just minutes later, staff and Supervisors argued that since agricultural helicopter landings are a land use not specifically prohibited by the zoning ordinance, they are therefore allowed.
Despite these obviously conflicting rationales, the Board of Supervisors voted to amend the zoning ordinance to “clarify” both the “existing” helicopter ban and the “existing” agricultural helicopter exception.