"Airport Land Use: Airport disclosure form not being used, director says"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Airport disclosure form not being used, director says
By JEREMY HSIEH
The Beaufort (SC) Gazette


BEAUFORT -- A largely ignored disclosure form that warns real estate buyers
of the potential hazards of living near the Beaufort County Airport on
Lady's Island is coming to the forefront.

A county ordinance adopted in 1999 requires most real estate buyers within
2.65 miles of the airport to sign a disclosure form acknowledging noise and
the potential for accidents caused by airport operations.

But real estate parties aren't fulfilling the disclosure requirement, said
county airport director Paul Andres, because military language in the
disclosure form specific to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort suggests it
doesn't apply to the area around the Lady's Island airport, and an official
map of the airport zoning area doesn't exist.

"They'd be hard pressed to know," Andres said.

The ordinance has only a cumbersome text explanation of the overlay, which
includes five subzones and variable height restrictions on potential
obstructions, such as buildings and trees.

Aviation and planning officials want to update the ordinance with a map of
the airport overlay district and disclosure forms to caution buyers.

A dense 82-home community under construction in the runway's approach path
triggered the aviation board's desire to update the ordinance. The
Tradewinds Plantation development spans 13.1 acres off Sea Island Parkway
opposite the airport runway.

During the Beaufort County Planning Commission's review of the proposed
updates, Chairman Jim Hicks acknowledged that allowing the development was a
poor move due to its location, a sentiment Beaufort County Councilman Skeet
Von Harten reiterated Monday.

"But it's been approved. Now, we want an acknowledgment that they know what
they're getting," he said.

The County Council's Land Management Committee voted to recommend the update
Monday. Before final approval, the full County Council must hold a public
hearing and vote on the update three times.

   Post your opinion on this story in the CAA General Aviation Forum
http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php

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