Sunday, April 14, 2002
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Sunday, April 14, 2002 |
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Subdivision could hurt airport, officials say By JOHN MUNFORD
Worried that a subdivision planned just south of Falcon Field could stunt the airport's future growth, the Peachtree City Airport Authority wants to share its concerns with city officials. Authority members are also concerned about the noise level, since the subdivision would be directly in the final approach course for aircraft landing at Falcon Field. At its regular meeting Wednesday night, authority member Jerry Cobb said planes can make significant noise when they land because their engines are at full power. Authority Chairman Cathy Nelmes pointed out that the airport plans to install a precision approach system in the near future, and that would have planes flying just 600 feet over the proposed subdivision. "We're concerned about what we'll do to the people in that area and what we'll do to their quality of life," Nelmes said. "We're open 24 hours a day because of the federal funds we receive." Nelmes also said the authority is concerned about protecting its ability to grow since it's important for the airport to become self-sufficient financially. Thomas Stephens, whose mother owns the tract for the proposed subdivision, said city officials approached them about developing it residentially instead of for industrial uses. The land is currently zoned for industrial use and will require a rezoning to change it for residential use, but the city's land use plan designates that the property could be considered for low density residential development. "It's news to us that the city has come to you and said they want it to be residential," Nelmes said. Authority attorney Doug Warner said he hoped that if the subdivision is approved by the city, deed covenants would be used to warn potential homeowners that the airport is nearby and will increase its operations in future years. Warner noted that deed covenants were used for Planterra Ridge. Airport Manager Jim Savage noted that although Falcon Field doesn't currently have a maintenance or air freight operation on site, those businesses can add to the noise problems. Jet planes that visit Falcon Field occasionally also can create a significant amount of noise, he added. The proposed 121-home subdivision would be located just north of Rockaway Road, about 9,500 feet from the end of the runway, Savage said. City officials have said it makes sense to change the tract to residential use because Flat Creek serves as a boundary between the property and the rest of the city's industrial park. While Planterra Ridge is closer to the other end of the runway than the proposed subdivision would be, takeoff patterns force pilots to turn west and avoid flying over the subdivision, Savage noted. Stephens said it was disappointing that opposition was developing to the plans since city officials had initiated the idea of making the property residential. He noted that his family has owned the land for over 150 years. Nelmes said the authority wasn't made aware of that plan until two months ago when it read about it in the paper. She added that the authority doesn't want to get into a situation like DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, which is buying homes that were built too close to the airport. Cobb said the authority needs to share the facts about the proposal instead of taking a concrete position. Nelmes will meet with the property owner and city officials to share the authority's concerns.
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