CITY COUNCIL LETTER TEMPLATE Quiet Skies TX — QuietSkiesTX.org | info@quietskiestx.org ------------------------------------------------------------------ INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in all [BRACKETED] fields before sending. Customize the personal experience section to reflect your situation. Send to your specific council member — links at QuietSkiesTX.org ------------------------------------------------------------------ [YOUR NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [CITY, TX ZIP] [YOUR EMAIL] [DATE] [COUNCIL MEMBER NAME OR "Member of the Richardson City Council"] [CITY] City Council [CITY HALL ADDRESS] [CITY, TX ZIP] RE: Amazon Prime Air Drone Operations — Noise, Safety, and Resident Quality of Life Dear Council Member, My name is [YOUR NAME], and I am a resident of [YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD/HOA] in [CITY]. I am writing to request city council action to address the ongoing quality-of-life, safety, privacy, and property value impacts caused by Amazon Prime Air drone delivery operations over our residential neighborhoods. THE SITUATION On June 9, 2025, the Richardson City Council approved Amazon Prime Air's zoning request 4-3, allowing drone operations from its facility at 3051 Research Drive. Drone deliveries began in December 2025. Within weeks, residents — primarily from neighborhoods near the Amazon facility — began filing formal complaints. The documented reality since launch includes: • A resident presented data at the February 2, 2026 council meeting showing 122 drone overflights over her home in a single 10-hour period — roughly one every five minutes. • The Richardson city manager confirmed the city has received dozens of formal complaints about drone noise, frequency, and altitude. • On February 4, 2026, an Amazon Prime Air MK30 drone crashed into a residential apartment building on Routh Creek Parkway in Richardson, fell to the ground, and began smoking. Firefighters responded. No injuries were reported, but the incident was confirmed by Amazon and investigated by the FAA. • In March 2026, Amazon acknowledged complaints and raised average cruise altitude to 225 feet — but stated that hardware changes to reduce noise "will not be in development soon." • Privacy concerns persist: Amazon's own documentation confirms drones use cameras that "may record overhead video of people and things near the delivery location." [ADD YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE — e.g., "In my household, drones pass over our backyard multiple times per hour during delivery hours. The noise disrupts outdoor activities, our pets are distressed by each pass, and we no longer use our backyard the way we did before December 2025."] WHAT I AM ASKING I ask the [CITY] City Council to take the following actions: 1. RESTRICT OPERATING HOURS. The current 7 a.m.–8 p.m. window, seven days a week, is excessive for residential neighborhoods. Limit operations to weekdays only, no holidays, and confine hours to 9 a.m.–5 p.m. or sunrise-to-sunset, whichever is more restrictive. 2. COMMISSION INDEPENDENT NOISE MONITORING. The council lacks real noise data for affected streets. Require an independent, community-specific noise study — not one conducted by Amazon — at residential properties in the flight corridor. 3. ESTABLISH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS WITH TEETH. Adopt enforceable noise and safety performance standards tied to the operating permit, with automatic review triggers and revocation authority if standards are exceeded. 4. REOPEN AND TIGHTEN PERMIT CONDITIONS. The February 4, 2026 crash, combined with documented complaint volume, provides clear grounds to reopen Amazon's operating permit conditions. The FAA is already investigating. 5. REQUIRE ADVANCE NOTICE OF EXPANSION. Any expansion of flight hours, delivery radius, or drone fleet count should require a new public hearing and council vote — not an administrative approval. 6. COORDINATE WITH GARLAND AND PLANO. Residents of neighboring cities fall under the same flight corridors but had no standing in Richardson's approval process. A coordinated, multi-city policy response is both equitable and more effective. THE BROADER STAKES Amazon is the first commercial drone operator in this corridor — but it will not be the last. Wing, Walmart DroneUp, and others are expanding across DFW. The standards your council establishes now will set the precedent for every subsequent operator. Acting now protects not only current residents but the long-term character and property values of our community. Research on aviation noise and property values consistently shows measurable negative impacts on homes beneath established flight corridors. I am a member of the Quiet Skies TX coalition — a community advocacy initiative of DFW residents organized as Quiet Skies Texas, LLC, and operating at QuietSkiesTX.org. We represent a growing number of homeowners, HOA members, and concerned neighbors who are watching how our elected officials respond to this issue. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you or your staff. I can be reached at [YOUR EMAIL] or [YOUR PHONE]. Thank you for your service and your attention to this matter. Respectfully, [YOUR SIGNATURE] [YOUR PRINTED NAME] [YOUR ADDRESS] [CITY, TX ZIP] [YOUR EMAIL] [YOUR PHONE] ------------------------------------------------------------------ OFFICIAL CONTACTS: Richardson City Council: https://www.cor.net/government/city-council Garland City Council: https://www.garlandtx.gov/758/City-Council Plano City Council: https://www.plano.gov/1345/Mayor-and-City-Council FAA Noise Complaints: https://www.faa.gov/contact Amazon Prime Air: https://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=206533607011 Quiet Skies TX: info@quietskiestx.org | QuietSkiesTX.org ------------------------------------------------------------------ IF YOU SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT — KEY POINTS: • State your name and street address at the podium • Describe your personal experience in specific, concrete terms (drone count, time of day, how it affects your household) • Reference the February 4, 2026 crash as grounds for permit review • Note that Amazon's own representative acknowledged "more work to do" at the March 9, 2026 council meeting • Ask specifically for independent noise monitoring and hour restrictions • Thank the council for their attention • Encourage neighbors to attend and speak — volume matters ------------------------------------------------------------------ This template is provided by Quiet Skies TX (QuietSkiesTX.org) for informational and advocacy purposes only. It is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for legal guidance. Quiet Skies Texas, LLC — QuietSkiesTX.org