A Heliport was just Proposed in HIDDEN VALLEY
Many residents are unaware that there is a proposal to build a Helipad and Hangar in our neighborhood. The plans are currently under county review.
A group of Hidden Valley property owners have built this website to organize our neighbors in sending the Washoe County Planning Department comments & concerns.
If our community does not speak out and the proposal is approved, regular helicopter takeoffs and landings will be allowed in close proximity to Hidden Valley homes, and flight paths will potentially affect more.
A property owner wants to build a private Heliport in our neighborhood
The proposed site location is at the end of Man-of-War Drive, above the Hidden Valley homes on Rough Rock, Gravel and Rocky Flats Drive.
An application for a Special Use Permit (SUP) have already been submitted to the Washoe County Board of Adjustment. The Board can approve, deny or modify the SUP.
Before approving any SUP, the Board encourages neighbors to voice concerns and comments. The Board will consider all concerns and comments from the public when deciding whether to approve the SUP or not. Concerns can be shared with the Board by email, and/or during future TBD Board meeting to discuss this SUP.
Hidden Valley residents may have reasons to be concerned
Noise: Helicopters produce intermittent but intense noise that potentially can disrupt your enjoyment of your outdoor spaces, your sleep, your ability to work-from-home, your children’s routines and your peacefulness inside your home. It can also disrupt your enjoyment of the Washoe County Hidden Valley Regional Park.
Safety: Low-altitude takeoffs and landings in residential areas raise understandable safety questions.
Property Values: A heliport could potentially depress the resale value of your HV property, and potentially make selling your home difficult.
See the section below for more information on the the proposed to-date Special Use Permit, and for research on how helicopters/aircraft have impacted other neighborhoods.
will you consider joining us and taking the following actions?
Please sign up on our email list using the form below.
We will only contact you with meaningful updates, such as to alert you when the next Board of Adjustment meeting is to take place.Share this website with your neighbors.
We want to make sure every Hidden Valley neighbor who is potentially affected is aware of this situation.Send an email voicing any concerns you have to the Washoe County Planning Department’s Board of Adjustment.
The person collecting input is Ms. Courtney Weiche, Senior Planner. Their email address is: cweiche@washoecounty.gov. The more comments they receive, the better!Be ready to attend the in-person meeting when the Board of Adjustment discusses the Heliport application.
Neighbors are offered 3-minutes to make a Public Comment at the start of the meeting. The meeting is not yet scheduled - we will send alerts to everyone who signed up on the email list.
More Information
Details on the proposed heliport in hidden valley
See the original proposal that the property owner submitted to the Washoe County Planning & Building Division. The proposal includes details such as ownership, expected operating times, and expected flight paths.
Research on the Impact of helicopters on Neighborhoods
Hidden Valley is not the first neighborhood to be potentially affected by a private heliport, and below is research that explain the potential impact:
Projected Impact of Helicopter Noise on Hidden Valley Property Values
Our Government officials
The senior planner attached to this project on the Washoe County Board of Adjustment is Ms. Courtney Weiche, at: cweiche@washoecounty.gov
Our representative on the Board of Adjustment is Pat Caldwell, at: pcaldwell@washoecounty.gov
We Are Not Alone. Other Communities Have Successfully Blocked Helicopter NOISE!
Several communities across the country have successfully opposed the building of helipads in their communities in Texas, Delaware and California. For the efforts to be successful, residents needed to get involved, attend public meetings, and send letters and messages showing their opposition. Here are some news stories highlighting those communities.
Double Oak, Texas
8/25/25 Double Oak denies helistop request amid heated debate and emotions https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/double-oak-denies-helistop-request-amid-heated-debate/287-df70ddf7-3994-44f4-bd7f-bfc124686d81
8/8/25 Commission denies permit as North Texas residents pack meeting against proposed helipad https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/denton-county/proposed-helipad-double-oak-texas/287-2c6a9883-04c6-41da-8661-2c25b2edfa57
7/1/25 Helipad plan faces community pushback in quiet North Texas town https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/denton-county/battle-brewing-over-request-to-put-helipad-double-oak-texas-residential-neighborhood/287-6cd52ff2-d7cf-4433-b3c3-ee85fb5f0045
6/12/25 Public hearing scheduled for helicopter landing area in Double Oak https://www.crosstimbersgazette.com/2025/06/12/public-hearing-scheduled-for-helicopter-landing-area-in-double-oak/
Kent County, Delaware
7/25/25 Kent weighs whether to allow a residential helipad https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/kent-weighs-whether-allow-residential-helipad
Montecito, California
7/8/20 Hotelier Patrick Nesbitt Denied Helicopter Use on His Montecito Estate https://www.independent.com/2020/07/08/hotelier-patrick-ne