FAA says residential development is ‘discouraged’ in runway protection zones; Calulla Hill would deviate from PTC’s village concept

A proposed subdivision and event center in Peachtree City’s industrial park may impede upon the runway protection zone for Falcon Field Airport, aviation officials have said.

The runway protection zone extends from the end of the Falcon Field property line in a trapezoid at either end of the runway. The zone starts 200 feet from the end of the runway and is 1,700 feet deep; at its farthest end it is 1,010 feet wide, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

According to federal aviation regulations, all development should be discouraged in runway protection zones, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Kathleen Bergen.

If ultimately approved by the City Council, the rezoning would be a significant departure from the city’s village concept and most recent land use plan, as the subdivision would not be directly adjacent to any other residential area.

Pathway Communities has argued the land’s proximity to Lake McIntosh makes it a prime site for lakefront homes that also border the Planterra Ridge Golf Course.

If the subdivision is approved, its initial access would be through the Southpark industrial park. But later a new entrance would be built off an access road to Lake McIntosh that will extend from TDK Boulevard.

The Southpark industrial park includes mostly office and distribution facility uses along with some manufacturing. Companies nearby range from Rinnai, Aventure Aviation, the Shinsei Corporation, FieldTurf, Metal Forming and Jasper Transmissions.

But those sites are zoned for heavy industrial use and ultimately could be used in the future by other companies that have a more intensive manufacturing process.

It is not clear whether or not the proposed Callula Hill subdivision and event center is in the runway protection zone. Peachtree City’s Airport Authority, which operates Falcon Field, has asked that an engineering study be conducted to determine if Callula Hill is in the runway protection zone or not.

Although FAA discourages development in runway protection zones, the agency has no power over the zoning of off-airport property, Bergen said. That responsibility rests with local governments, she said; in this case the decision is up to the Peachtree City Council.

Falcon Field serves not only small engine aircraft but also corporate jets which can, at times, make a significant amount of noise at takeoff.

There are a number of cases in which communities have built homes close to general aviation airports such as Falcon Field, Bergen said. And many of those cases leave homeowners upset about airport noise, she noted.

“If they do build homes and people do complain about noise, that’s a local issue they will have to deal with,” Bergen said.

Pathway Communities has proposed to include a notice in closing documents for each parcel in Callula Hill that would remind purchasers of the proximity of their land to Falcon Field.

The city is being asked to rezone the 37-acre site from industrial to limited use residential and limited use commercial. Pathway wants to build 80 homes and an events center with 12 overnight villas on the site, which is also adjacent to the Planterra Ridge golf course and the long-planned Lake McIntosh water reservoir.

The city’s planning commission is expected to consider approval of the rezoning at a special called meeting Thursday, April 30 at City Hall. The commission’s vote only carries the weight of a recommendation, however.

The final say-so is up to the City Council, which is tentatively set to vote on the proposed rezoning Thursday, May 7.