By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Juab County Commissioners will hold a public hearing
to take input on the revision of the county's airport
protection zone ordinance.
The hearing will be held on Monday, April 7, at 7
p.m., following the regularly scheduled county commission
meeting which begins on that day at 3 p.m.
"The definitions remain the same," said Glenn
Greenhalgh, county planning commission director. "Nephi City
has now purchased and owns all the ground off the end of the
proposed runways."
That ownership will allow the zoning ordinance to be
revised. When the city first considered adding to the length
and breadth of the runway, the county would not consider
revising the zoning plan because the commission, at the
time, did not want it to be seen as taking sides with the
city against property owners.
However, the city now owns, either by sale or lease,
enough property to make the runway and the county can be
assured that the property remaining in private holdings can
be used for traditional farming practices.
"In essence, the airport protection zone provides a
bowl of protection for the airport," said Greenhalgh.
Non-conforming uses, the same thing as the
"grandfather" clause, would allow a structure which was
built prior to the revision to remain. They city will, at
the city's expense, go to those sites and put lights on them
so they can be seen by aircraft pilots.
"We went over this revision very carefully in planning
and zoning meeting," said Robert Steele, commissioner, who
sits on the board in a non voting capacity.
Steele said the only problem which the planning
commission could see for the future would be on the east
side of the community of Nephi. If someone wanted to build a
tower in that area, they would not be able to do so.
"For the runway precision instrument approach zone,"
said Steele, "1 foot in height for each 50 feet horizontal
distance would be required."
That requirement also sets the horizontal distance at
a pint 200 feet from the end of the runway and at the
centerline elevation extending a distance of 10,000 feet
then 1 foot in height for each 40 feet horizontal distance,
extending for an additional 40,000 feet.
Since no structure or three may be erected, altered,
allowed to grow, or maintained in any height-limiting zone
created by the zoning ordinance in excess of the height
limit established in the ordinance, that would affect such
things as the construction of a tower, he said.
No tree or structure more than 75 feet in vertical
height unless the terrain would cause that to happen.
Definitions which remain the same are for the airport;
the approach- transitional, horizontal, and conical zones;
airport elevation; airport primary surface; airport utility
runway; airport non-precision instrument runway; and airport
precision instrument runway.
"The height limiting zones are fairly complicated,"
said Greenhalgh. Those limiting zones include all the land
lying within the utility and non precision instrument
approach zones, transition zones, horizontal zones, and
conical zones.
"From the valley floor for a prescribed distance in
the air, the height limitations are set in the ordinance
according to regulations set by the FFA," he said.
The horizontal zone is 150 feet above the airport
elevation and the conical zone is 20 feet in height for each
1 foot of horizontal distance beginning at the periphery of
the horizontal zone, extending to a height of 350 feet above
the airport elevation.
However, said Greenhalgh, the ordinance also makes it
clear that it does not prohibit growth, construction, or
maintenance of any tree or structure at a height consistent
with the terms.
A permit can be applied for and granted by the
planning commission as long as it fits the regulations.
A variance can also be applied for with the applicant
going to the board of adjustment, which in Juab County, is
the county commission.
No use will be allowed which creates an electrical
interference with radio communication between the airport
and the aircraft; makes it difficult for pilots to
distinguish between airport lights and other lights; results
in the glare in the eyes of pilots; impart visibility in the
vicinity; or endanger the landing, taking off, or
maneuvering of aircraft.
No places of public assembly, apartments, barracks,
churches, hospitals, hotels, mobile home parks,
multiple-family dwellings, recreational vehicle parks,
schools and theaters may be located within any of the areas
established as an approach zone.
A copy of the airport protection plan revision will be
available in the office of Greenhalgh at the county building
for those who are interested in looking at it.
|
