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Topic Description:
The
applicant seeks to obtain a Category 21 Special Exception
amendment to allow for continued operation of a privately
owned, public use airport. This application seeks renewal
and amendment of a previously approved Special Exception and
associated Conditions (SE99-CR-27, approved on 12/6/99).
Along with the renewal, the applicant also requests changes
to conditions 13 and 14 which are stated in their approved
form below:
13.
This special exception is granted for five (5) years.
14.
This special exception approval is solely for the
Whitman family and heirs; it does not follow with the
transfer or selling of the land.
The
applicant is requesting changes to the referenced Conditions
as follows:
Amend Condition #13 from a 5-year Special Exception renewal
to permanent status. The applicant indicates that the
5-year permit discourages the investment of funds and
improvements of the airport facilities. Permanent status
would allow opportunity for improving the facilities.
Amend Condition #14 to allow the airstrip to be sold to a
private individual instead of solely for the Whitman family
and heirs. The applicant indicates that this amendment
would provide incentive to build and improve the facility
and would allow for a return on the investment.
Project
Update:
On October
13, 2005, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on
this item and postponed action for 30 days, per the
applicant’s request. This action provided time for the
applicant to provide the Board of Supervisors with the
requested insurance policies of all pilots who store
airplanes at the site. The applicant noted that these
policies are collected annually in October and can be
provided in time for the November meeting. In addition, the
applicant and staff met with Chairman Graham (Cedar Run
Magisterial District) to discuss further project
refinements.
On August
25, 2005, the Planning Commission forwarded this item to the
Board of Supervisors with a recommendation of approval;
subject to a series of twenty-one (21) Conditions. Since
Planning Commission action, it has come to staff’s attention
that the airstrip also has an annual open house event for
the public. It is a free event to promote the airport.
Staff recommends an additional Condition to allow for this
annual event.
Zoning
staff recently received many complaints from adjacent
residences about the hours of operation of the ultralight
planes. Dates and times have been documented by the
residents. Since the complaint times are after normal
business hours, these violations have not been confirmed
directly by staff.
Staff has
reviewed the application for consistency with Zoning
Ordinance standards and found it to be satisfactory. Any
change in scale or uses at the site will require a Special
Exception Amendment.
Project
Background:
Whitman’s
Airstrip has been in operation for approximately fifty (50)
years. According to the applicant the airstrip has had no
fatalities or accidents during this time. The airstrip is
operational from sunrise to sunset, seven (7) days per
week. It is used for small general aviation and light
aircraft only. The Department of Homeland Security can
utilize the airstrip for training and emergency purposes.
Hangar space is restricted to a maximum of twenty (20)
renters.
Whitman’s
Airstrip contains a grass runway that is approximately 2700
feet long and seventy (70) feet wide. All airstrip
activities are located out of the 100-year floodplain on the
property. The previously approved Special Exception
conditions require specific landing patterns and other
operational protocol for the facility and its users.
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