The Evansville Regional Airport Authority is asking the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners to approve an airport overlay zone, as they put it, to “protect the long-term future of the airport.”
It could limit some future developments within the zone.
Should the ordinance pass, there would be some limitations. For example, the very small areas of zone “A” which are closest to the runway, prohibit any above ground structures to be built. Overall it’s about mitigating safety risks around the airport.
“There's the risks of the people on the ground, and the things on the ground, then there's the risk to the people in the airplanes and the airplanes themselves,” said Dirck Stahl of the plan commission, who said such overlay zones don’t seem to hurt property values.
He said Evansville Regional Airport is the only commercial airport without an overlay zone in the state of Indiana.
While future developments could be limited by the ordinance, The Area Plan Commission said any current landowners and their activities, whether a home or business, won’t be impacted but the proposed overlay zone.
The Board of Commissioners are inviting public questions on this possible Airport Overlay Zone surrounding Evansville Regional Airport.
These questions can be offered at the normal county commissioners meeting Tuesday, August 8, 3 pm, room 301 of the Civic Center building. The meeting at the Old National Events Plaza has been postponed according to a letter from the Office of the Commission, received July 31:
“After receiving and reviewing a number of questions and concerns with the proposed Airport Overlay Ordinance, (the) meeting and Public Hearing has been cancelled in order to allow more time to receive a modified, amended ordinance from the Planning
Department and the Airport.”
Property owners within the proposed airport overlay zone will receive an informational letter from the airport authority.
“Ultimately what this is, is an overlay to really protect the long term future of the airport development,” said Nathanial Hahn, airport Executive Director.
To view the ordinance on the Plan Commission website, click here.
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