HomeMy WebLinkAbout07 21 1989 Residential restrictions near airport urgedResidential restrictions near airport urged
By George Ricker
At least one member of the Sebas-
tian Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion would like to see restrictions
placed on residential development
near the Sebastian Municipal Airport
and included in the city's comprehen-
sive land use plan. .
Commissioner Ed Gilcher's posi-
tion paper on the subject, dated July
11, stated, "The disruptive contention
between Sebastian residents and the
airport community over noise pollu-
tion is the basis for this proposition.
"Our comprehensive plan fails to
address this paramount issue - except
by the most timid of references."
Gilcher's paper suggested the ref-
erences that exist in the comprehen-
sive plan sound fine, but lack sub-
stance.
As an alternative, he referred to a
statement in the master plan for the
airport, as the sort of position that
"...should be typical of land use objec-
tives and policies in the comprehen-
sive plan."
"The airport should be protected
from incompatible development of
surrounding land both now and in the
future. This relates directly to zoning,
land use planning, soundproofing,
aviation easements, and, if necessary,
land acquisition." (Underlining
added in Gilcher's paper).
Gilcher noted the state passed legis-
lation during its most recent session
that would have imposed restrictions
on residential construction near pub-
lic airports within an outer noise con-
tour of 65 Ldn, where appropriate
noise studies have been conducted.
That legislation, he stated, was ve-
toed by Gov. Bob Martinez because of
financial problems with unrelated
sections of the bill.
"I urge that we follow the state leg-
islature's lead," Gilcher wrote, "and
encompass similar objectives and
policies in our current comprehensive
See Airport Page 5-A
N4
Airport (from 6-A),
plan to protect the health, safety,
well being and peace of mind of our
future residents."
His paper recommends an addition
to the comprehensive land use plan
that would require the compatibility
of residential land use adjacent to the
airport be assured and would prohibit
residential development of any den-
sity, if the public health, welfare and
normal use of residential property
would be impaired by aircraft
operations.
It also proposes the establishment
of a noise limit contour contiguous to
the airport within 'which residential
construction shall not be allowed.
That limit would be equal to or less
than the currently accepted level of 65
a
Ldn, which is recognized by both the
Federal Aviation Administration and
the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development.
Gilcher's position paper was not
taken up at the joint workshop meet-
ing held Wednesday night by the City
Council and the Sebastian Planning
and Zoning Commission on the com-
prehensive land use plan.
However, the position he advo-
cated appeared to have some support
as councilmen Lloyd Rondeau and
Frank Oberbeck expressed concerns
about residential development, espe-
cially planned unit developments
(PUDs), around the airport.
A second joint workshop isplanned
for Thursday evening..