Airport zoning issue should not hinder future development

by Amanda Polaski– Staff Writer

It took some time, but Rogers City manager Mark Slown, as well as the Presque Isle County Economic Development Corporation (EDC), recently received some answers from the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC) regarding a zoning map and packet of land use guidelines that was received from the MAC and MDOT in late April. The packet of information has been causing some concern with the city and county regarding development opportunities at the Renaissance Zones located next to the Rogers City Airport.

SINCE THE packet of guidelines was received, the city and county have been working to set up a teleconference meeting with the MAC in order to get some answers. What was once a 500-foot safety zone from the centerline of the runway was now listed as a 1,000-foot safety zone, putting all county Renaissance Zones, and some city zones, into question, and possibly making the business of future development in Renaissance Zones much more difficult. Along with the 1,000-foot safety zone around the runway, there also was concern with the ?population density? allowed in certain areas. It recommended having no more than five people per acre of land, which would make it very difficult for future businesses that might employ workers or attract customers. Linn Smith, who works in the airport division of the MAC, said he has been in contact with EDC executive director Bill Valentine, as well as Slown, although he has not set up a teleconference meeting between all parties concerned.

According to Smith, the city, village, and county Zoning Enabling Act was amended in 2001, stating ?if a zoning ordinance was adopted before March 28, 2001, the zoning ordinance is not required to be consistent with any airport zoning regulations, airport layout plans, or airport approach plans.? Smith said the process of updating zoning guidelines is ongoing. ?It (zoning guideline) is a living, breathing document,? said Smith. ?It changes, and our job is to keep everyone informed. The changes are based off of a national study funded by the FAA?and has been found to be the best fit for Michigan.? SMITH SAID airports, such as the Rogers City Airport, that had existing zoning regulations and ordinances in place before amendments were made to the guidelines, are grandfathered in, which allows the inconsistencies with the current guidelines to stay. However, zoning regulations and/or ordinances cannot be made more inconsistent now that new gu

idelines have been set in place. This is also stated in the Zoning Enabling Act: ?A zoning ordinance adopted or variance granted after March 28, 2001 shall not increase any inconsistency that may exist between the zoning ordinance or structures or uses, and any airport zoning regulations, airport layout plans, or airport approach plans.? Smith said any changes received from the MAC are simply ongoing updates to zoning regulations, but all airport approach plans are controlled at the local level. Valentine said the basic problem he saw was the issue of population density guidelines within the airport approach area.

?The MDOT Aeronautics Division does not enforce these guidelines,? said Valentine. ?That is the responsibility of the local zoning and planning commission. On the other hand, MDOT does enforce height restrictions under the Tall Structures Act.? Smith said that population density was used rather than zoning codes because it made the language more universal ? not all areas use the same zoning codes. According to Valentine, the documents that created the Renaissance Zones in Presque Isle County did not address population density, and that is an issue that he hopes can be resolved as soon as possible.