RED BLUFF—The Red Bluff Planning Commission approved a use permit for PHI Air Medical at 1790 Airport Boulevard on Tuesday night.
PHI Medical plans to expand its air ambulance services, sharing a hangar with the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and converting an existing museum into office space. The expansion aims to enhance medical services in the North State, particularly for pediatric transports.
PHI Health does business under PHI Medical. The company operates about 55 helicopters across the country as, what it calls, independent models. Those are free-standing paramedical transport helicopters not affiliated with a hospital.
PHI operates approximately 40 to 45 additional helicopters, partnering with hospitals nationwide, such as the Dallas Children’s Hospital, the Mayo Clinic and others.
PHI currently has four paramedical bases in California. Two of those bases are in Redding, where the company has been since 2005.
The Red Bluff addition would expand and bring the company up to five helicopters in the state.
One program in Chico is associated with PHI’s flight care system; it is an owner-operator helicopter program.
According to city staff, the airport facility will not negatively impact the community, with minimal construction and no CEQA impact.
Commissioner Tyler Miranda shared that his son has had to use medical air transportation more times than he would like. He expressed hope that this new program could reduce travel time for patients needing medical care.
“I see this as a huge plus for the community,” Miranda said.
Chairman Greg Latourell teed up on this by saying that PHI’s expansion enhances living in a small town while still providing the quality of emergency services of a big city.
The commissioners unanimously approved the use permit, recognizing the benefits to emergency services in the region.
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In other business
The commission reviewed the planned development use permit for the Victoria Villa subdivision intended at South Jackson Street and Snow Mountain Way.
The applicant sought approval for the variance on 48 of the 62 lots that do not meet the minimum lot standards for an R1 zoning district for the size of the 16.2-acre site being developed. The proposed density is eight units per acre with an average lot size of approximately 5100 square feet in an R1 subdivision zoning.
The proposed project will provide 62 lots for moderate-income level families.
Community Development Director Beth Lindauer disclosed that the minimum requirement for an interior lot is 6000 square feet. In comparison, the corner lots are 7000 square feet, so most of this development was looking for that variance to be considered.
“It is very common to see lots developed like this in subdivisions in larger urban areas,” Lindauer said. “So this isn’t uncommon. Many of our sister communities do have developments similar to this.”
The commission would approve the permit.
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