Qualla residents voice concerns about tourist helicopter noise

By Lisa Majors-Duff

Residents were nearly unanimous in their opposition to what they termed an "invasion of privacy" and an "erosion of quality of life" caused by the helicopter business, which opened off Business U.S. 441, a quarter mile from the Harrah's Cherokee Casino, in May 1999.

Owned by Great Smoky Mountain Helicopters of Sevierville, Tenn., the helicopters take off and land every 15 minutes, every day, including Christmas Day, one area resident said. Responding to "What should be changed about Jackson County," audience members said county leaders should look into ways to control this and other noises and be aware of the safety issues caused by the helicopter.

"The noise is also a health issue for people who have to work at night," said Dr. David Trigg, a Qualla resident and emergency room physician at Harris Regional Hospital. "These people need to sleep during the day in order to work efficiently at night."

Another resident cited the possibility of a catastrophic accident if the helicopter were to come down in one of the populated areas over which it operates its tours. Safety, he said, should be a primary concern of government leaders with respect to this newly developing industry.

The discussion of helicopter noise soon shifted to noise produced during the summer months at the Smoky Mountain Raceway, though many agreed that when compared to the noise of the helicopter, the race track was not an issue. Some even said they enjoyed the race track and the entertainment opportunity it provides for area residents.

Other issues Qualla residents voiced concern about included:

- More recreation and entertainment opportunities for old and young alike.

- Continued use of former school buildings instead of leaving them boarded up.

- Support of existing industry and recruitment of industry to provide jobs to keep young people from being forced to move away to find employment. - Emphasis on regional air quality and provision for continued community education on the issue.

- Some type of community information requirement for business/industry that wishes to locate in residential areas.

- Regulations to prevent undesirable development in all areas.

- Solutions for odor and transportation problems associated with the Cherokee Transfer Station.

- Wider roads to allow for alternative forms of transportation, including walking and bicycling.

- Prevention of rapid loss of natural areas with tax incentives for landowners.

- Requirement that the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority not build additional sewage treatment plants along the Tuckaseigee River and that it be held responsible for cleaning the river of pollutants.

- Affordable housing and control on property values.

- Better access controls on U.S. 74 in the Barkers Creek area.

- Junkyard cleanup along the Tuckaseigee River.

- Additional water and sewer infrastructure in the Qualla area.

- Supplemental pay increases for teachers.

- Exploration of ways to preserve the water table.

- Elimination of dangerous intersections.

- Balance between creation of jobs and preservation rural heritage of the area.

- Promotion of environmentally-friendly industry and supplement cyclical tourism industry.

- Additional billboard regulations.

Qualla residents also addressed the things they enjoy about Jackson County and would like to see preserved. That list include:

- The peaceful and quiet nature of the area and its low crime rate.

- Its natural beauty.

- Its lack of traffic.

- Its undeveloped areas, and its lack of street lights tracking up the mountainsides.

- Its good-natured, down-to-earth, friendly people.

- Its reasonable property tax rates.

- A communitywide appreciation for the volunteers who staff the Qualla Fire and Rescue Department.

- The county's high-quality medical facilities and public schools.

- Its lack of billboards and its beautiful waterways.

- The revitalization of downtown Sylva, which has provided additional places to shop and eat locally.

- Appreciation of the Department of Transportation's snow removal process and its summer wildflower program.

- Maintain farm land through avenues to slow development.

- County's cultural diversity.

- Appreciation for Cherokee heritage.

- County festivals, including the Fourth of July event in Sylva and Western Carolina University's Mountain Heritage Day in Cullowhee.

- Top quality state and county road directional signs.

- Government and private support for animal welfare.

- County's lack of telecommunication towers and "tasteless, adult" businesses.

Qualla's Smart Growth meeting was the sixth in a series of 14 planned events initiated by former Gov. Jim Hunt to address future growth patterns for the state. Information compiled from the meetings will be presented to the county planning board, which will be charged with developing a comprehensive plan for the county's future, said Board of Commissioners Chairman Jay Denton.

The next Smart Growth meeting will be at Cullowhee Valley School Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.

Back to Archive: 02/15/01.