March 29, 2024

Discussion continues for proposed airport zoning

There are still a few questions to be answered before Union County Supervisors will approve the proposed zoning at Creston Municipal Airport.

During the second public hearing Monday at the Union County Courthouse, Southern Iowa Council of Governments (SICOG) Regional Planner Chris Lee responded to landowners' questions from the public hearing March 30.

The main concern for landowners Monday was the process of receiving approval for building new structures and replacing damaged buildings back to their current dimensions.

Within the five proposed zones, there are different height restrictions to ensure planes have a safe path for landing. Any construction in these areas requires approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Iowa Department of Transportation and the local airport zoning board.

"The reason it (height restriction) is being included is primarily and almost exclusively a safety issue," said Tim Ostroski, SICOG executive director. "That's why they are doing it."

Alex Gates, who farms with his family on the south side of the airport, said about half of their farm is in the "blue zone" also labeled as Zone A. In this area, the objective is to provide a clear area that is free of above-ground obstructions and structures. This zone is closest to where the individual runway ends.

Currently, Gates said their farm has a 34:1 height easement from the FAA and he wants the approved zoning plans to reflect that agreement.

"We don't have any major plans ... but when you tell someone you can't do anything, that is a problem," Gates said. "This document, the way I read it, and other people have read it, would be far more restrictive than the 34:1 glide slope."

Lee and Ostroski are checking with the Iowa DOT to determine if that easement can be added to the proposed airport zoning regulations.

Another public hearing is not required, but supervisors will decided on the proposed airport zoning in open session.

Background

The City of Creston adopted the ordinance in February. Now the county has to adopt the same ordinance so Creston Municipal Airport can continue to receive required funding to operate in Union County.

"This is nothing new, the airport has always had regulations," Lee said. "Now they are being formalized and put into code so they can be better enforced."

The zoning project is part of state, federal and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for the airport.