Westfield hospital planning heliport

Riverview Health in Westfield wants to add a heliport.

The hospital, which opened in October northeast of the intersection of U.S. 31 and State Road 32, introduced plans for the heliport to the Westfield City Council on Monday night.

Rex Alexander, president of consultant Five-Alpha LLC, presented plans on behalf of the hospital. The project would consist primarily of a square helipad measuring 113 feet by 113 feet. It would be set up along State Road 32, on the southwest corner of the hospital property.

Riverview officials don’t expect the heliport to be used often, said Scott Tripp of Riverview Health. A heliport at a sister hospital in Noblesville sees one helicopter landing per month, he said.

And an aircraft won’t be stationed at the hospital regularly.

“It is needed for a certain type of patient,” Tripp told the council. “We don’t get any complaints in Noblesville.”

Before the hospital can move forward with plans to establish a heliport, it will need to get permission from the city through an amendment to the planned unit development ordinance established in the area.

A public hearing is slated for the Advisory Plan Commission meeting on Jan. 22. The project goes back to the city council Feb. 11.