"Airport Land Use: New land use regulations around Texas airport, airpark under consideration"

Thursday, August 23, 2007

New land use regulations around airport, airpark under consideration 
By Colin Guy
The Midland (TX) Reporter-Telegram 


New ordinance would restrict height of structures around runways and
approach paths and prohibit residential construction in certain areas around
Midland International Airport and Midland Airpark. 

In order to provide a safer environment for flight operations in Midland
city staff have drafted a new ordinance to restrict development around
Midland International Airport and Midland Airpark. The ordinance applies
only to previously unregulated land not within the city limits. 

The Airport Height Hazard and Land Use Zoning ordinance would restrict
residential development from taking place anywhere near Midland
International Airport and Midland Airpark and would limit the height of
structures constructed along the approach path to runways in Midland. 

"There is a law in state regulations that allows you to adapt zoning around
municipal airport facilities even though the land you are zoning may not be
within the city limits," Cameron Walker, division manger of the Department
of Development Services' Planning Division, said. 

The ordinance calls for restrictions on the height of structures according
to their proximity to runways to reduce the risk of accidents while planes
are taking off and landing. Danny Whitaker, an employee of Parkhill, Smith
and Cooper who helped draft the ordinance, said that along State Highway 191
the height of structures near the airport would basically be limited to
about 150 feet. Buildings already in place not meeting the ordinance would
be grandfathered out of the new restrictions. 

In addition to restricting the height of properties near the airport and
airpark, the new ordinance would limit residential construction in areas
around both facilities determined by noise levels. Marv Esterly, director of
airports, noted this restriction will protect potential home buyers from
unwittingly purchasing a house in an area that is subject to a great deal of
noise from flight operations. 

"They're not going to have future noise issues, it won't be an issue for
those people," he said. 

Another provision of the ordinance would prohibit any land use around the
airports that could interfere with navigational signals or radio
communications, result in glare in the eyes of pilots, impair visibility or
"otherwise in any way endanger or interfere with the landing, taking off or
maneuvering of aircraft intending to use the airport." 

Walker said any appeals made in regards to the ordinance's restrictions will
be heard by the city's Planning and Zoning Commission, which will have the
final say in whether or not a violation has occurred. 

"There is a keen interest in not putting flight operations in jeopardy by
land use around the airport," Walker said. 

Following the commission's vote in favor of the ordinance, the City Council
will have to vote twice to add the new regulations to the City Code.

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