Second public hearing scheduled for proposed Creston airport zoning

A second public hearing will be held 10 a.m. April 13 to provide more information for landowners who may be affected by the proposed zoning at Creston Municipal Airport.

Southern Iowa Council of Governments Regional Planner Chris Lee met with Union County Supervisors and nine landowners during a public hearing Monday at Union County Courthouse. Several concerns were raised about land regulations and if the zoning would be an encumbrance on the landowner’s title.

“This specific ordinance is for trying to prevent future hazards for any potential construction that happens within the zones on the map,” Lee said.

The zoning project is part of state, federal and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for the airport to continue to receive required funding to operate in Union County.

The City of Creston adopted the ordinance in February. Now the county has to adopt the same ordinance.

“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.”

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.

“Within the blue, almost nothing is allowed,” Gates said. “Anything there is an obstruction because it is above ground. We would not be able to build a dog house on that half of our property because that would be an above-ground structure. That doesn’t sound right.”

Gates added they currently have a height restriction, which the family does not have a problem with following.

Any construction in the proposed airport zoning would require approval from the airport commissioner, Kevin Kruse. Structures such as wind turbines or radio towers would also be subject to FAA approval.

“We are trying to find compatible and incompatible land uses that exist around the airport for safety for landing aircraft,” Lee said.