SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - A controversial proposal to build a private helipad in South Salem - pitting a group of neighbors against a Wall Street executive and raising questions about environmental oversight - came to an end on March 25, when the application was withdrawn before the Lewisboro Zoning Board of Appeals.
The application had been filed by Richard Handler, the longtime chief executive of Jefferies Financial Group and one of Wall Street’s longest-serving CEOs. Handler, who has led the firm since 2001 and helped grow it into a major global investment bank, sought approval to construct a helicopter landing area on his more than 50-acre South Salem property.
The proposal was the first submitted under a 2025 zoning amendment allowing private helipads on large residential parcels - an amendment that quickly became the focus of scrutiny once Handler applied. Only 11 properties in Lewisboro meet the 50-acre requirement.
In the weeks leading up to the March 25 hearing, 14 neighboring property owners organized in opposition, filing detailed legal objections to both the application and the underlying law. Their concerns ranged from noise and safety to environmental risks tied to the property’s location within the Croton watershed.
The Handler property includes ponds and waterways that drain into the Cross River Reservoir, part of New York City’s drinking water system. Opponents argued that helicopter operations, particularly during takeoff and landing, pose a risk of fuel spills or accidents that could affect tributaries feeding the reservoir.
They also challenged the process by which the zoning amendment was adopted. In a formal petition to the Town Board, residents argued that classifying the law as a “Type II” action under the State Environmental Quality Review Act improperly avoided any environmental review.
Both the Planning Board and ZBA had recommended consulting an aviation expert before adoption, but the Town Board moved forward the same night as the public hearing.
The application itself drew additional attention because of the helicopter involved - a Eurocopter model often associated with private use - and its broader context. Handler had purchased a superyacht in 2024 equipped with a helipad, and public records tied the aircraft to that acquisition, though the local application referenced potential emergency uses.
Despite the buildup, withdrawal halted proceedings. For at least one resident, the outcome was both surprising and welcome.
“I salute him. He’s a gentleman,” said Tom Christopher, who had been among those opposing the plan. “He saw some opposition and said, ‘Why am I going to make all these people miserable? Let’s just remove it.’”
Christopher framed the decision as a rare moment in local land-use disputes, which often drag on for months or years. “It’s a wise man who knows he has enough,” he added. “Why antagonize everyone else? … I think he realized, ‘I’m good, and this is wrong,’ and backtracked.”
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