Airport Board of Adjustment Minutes - 01/11/2006MINUTES
AIRPORT ZONING BOARD
January 11, 2006
PRESENT:
Cayce Cleary, Chairman ♦ Members
Larry Ash
James Bradberry
John Kidwell
Steve Lane
John Stephenson
Ripley Tate
Kevin Callahan ♦ Alternate #1
Charles Elmore ♦ Council Liaison
David A. Clark, Director of Community Development ♦ City Staff
Paul Stillson, Planner
Marty Odom, Planner
Diane Parker
ABSENT:
Charles Barr ♦ Members
Ken Dowdy
I. CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Cleary at 2:40 p.m.
II. REGULAR AGENDA
Proposed Changes to Zoning Ordinance
Section 6400 — Airport Zoning
Mr. John Kidwell abstained from participation and voting on this case.
Mr. Stillson stated that the City of Wichita Falls airport consultants, Mr. Bill Griffin with
URS and Leslie Sagar & Associates L.L.C., were asked by city staff to review the
Airport Zoning Ordinance and recommend changes. The following changes were
presented to bring the ordinance into conformance with new FAA standards. A revised
Land Use Compatibility Table was placed in the ordinance to update the existing table.
Mr. Stillson explained that Section 6407, Definitions, was added because airport zoning
is a specialized topic requiring specific aviation terminology.
References in the text of the ordinance referring to the AICUZ study prepared in August
1999 were changed to read the "latest" study. This change eliminated the constant
need for updating the ordinance when a new AICUZ study is published.
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Mr. Stillson continued by saying that the consultants recommended that in the Municipal
Airport section, the term "Approach Departure Clearance Zone" is changed to
"Approach/Departure Zone".
Mr. Stillson stated that for Municipal Airport, the regulatory runway elevation is lowered
by one foot to 1014 feet mean sea level (MSL), based on the latest information for that
runway. The consultants also recommended changes to the dimensions of the
Approach\Departure Zone.
Regarding Kickapoo Downtown Airpark, Mr. Stillson stated that the current
Approach/Departure slope at Kickapoo is one (1) foot for 34 feet. The
Approach/Departure Zone in the amended text is divided into two separate zones: an
Approach Zone and a separate Departure Zone. The consultants proposed increasing
the slope for the Departure Zone to one (1) foot for 40 feet, resulting in a 15% reduction
in allowed heights. The width of the Departure Zone is proposed to increase from 500
to 1,000 feet at the end of the runway, and to increase from 3,500 feet to 6,466 feet
wide at a distance of 10,200 feet from the runway. This increase results in an overall
increase of 859.9 acres, or 86.65%. Mr. Stillson noted that the elevation of Kickapoo
runway 17 was changed from 978 ft. MSL to 979 ft. MSL, a one (1) foot increase.
Mr. Stillson reported that the consultants proposed changing the width of the Horizontal
Zone for Kickapoo from a width of 7,500 feet to a width of 10,000 feet. The Horizontal
Zone has a fixed height limit of 150 feet.
Regarding Section 6455[c], passed in 2001, Mr. Stillson explained that although it
appeared appropriate at the time, staff and the consultants now consider that provision
overly restrictive. It requires a maximum height 50 feet lower than the FAA height limits.
In staff's and the consultant's opinion, the additional 50 foot limit will adversely impact
future development at Kickapoo Airpark and the surrounding areas.
Mr. Stillson explained that the revisions to Section 6485 were proposed to replace the
1992 SAFB AICUZ table in the current ordinance with the 1999 version. That table is
found in Section 6485 entitled Land Use Compatibility Table for SAFB/Municipal Airport.
Mr. Stillson stated that the consultants felt that Exhibit "B" was obsolete and
unnecessary; it has been deleted from the proposed amendments.
Mr. Stephenson asked about the depth of the Clear Zone. Mr. Stillson replied that it is
1,000 feet wide and 3,000 feet long from the end of the runway for Municipal Airport.
Mr. Stephenson asked about building structures in the surrounding area. Mr. Stillson
replied that several citizens have supported the new regulations and noise contours
being proposed. Sheppard Air Force Base purchased some air rights from several
property owners in the surrounding Base area some time ago. Mr. Stephenson asked,
if a land owner were to build a structure, would he come to this Commission or the Air
Force for approval. Mr. Stillson replied that it would depend if the air rights were
purchased by the Air Force, the land owner would then need to contact the Air Force,
otherwise this Commission would be the governing body.
Mr. Stillson informed the Commission that the AICUZ study is usually revised every five
to ten years by the Air Force because the noise changes according to various aircraft
being flown at this airfield. He further explained that these proposed regulations were
approved Air Force recommendations. Mr. Tate inquired about future vulnerability with
these proposed regulations. Mr. Stillson responded that the only area that might be
questionable was the 50 foot buffer which was being eliminated with these proposed
regulations. That buffer is stricter than FAA requirements and the City might have a
difficult time justifying that restriction.
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Messrs. Monty Monson and Gary Baker, of Staley, Baker, Monson Architects, gave a
very brief presentation then expressed approval of the recommended changes,
especially the removal of the 50 foot buffer. They both explained the construction
advantages of having that restriction abolished.
Mr. Lane made a motion to recommend approval to City Council to approve these
proposed changes to Section 6400 Airport Zoning Regulations of the City of Wichita
Falls Zoning Ordinance. Mr. Stephenson seconded. The vote was seven (7) in favor
and none (0) opposed.
III. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.
Cayce Cleary, Chairperson
ATTEST:
David A. Clark, Director of Community Development
Date
Date
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