AIRPORT POLICY STATEMENT GOES TO COMMISSIONERS

In April 2002, DeKalb-Peachtree Airport Advisory Board (AAB) member Charles Feltus presented a Proposed Policy Statement. At its June 2002 meeting the AAB approved the following edited document for consideration by the Board of Commissioners.

The DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) is owned and operated by the citizens of DeKalb County to support business and recreational aviation interests in the metropolitan area. PDK is recognized as a significant airport in the national airport system. PDK is a self-sufficient enterprise fund and does not require any financial support from the General Fund of DeKalb County.

The Airport Advisory Board (AAB) has the duty to consider, evaluate and initiate recommendations to the governing authority on a wide range of matters. The proposed policy sets a tone for the basis of recommendations from the AAB and as a method for keeping the citizens of DeKalb County informed about this unit of DeKalb County government.

It is recommended that this policy be forwarded to the governing body for consideration, modification and ultimate adoption. It will help direct AAB efforts and provide a guide for airport development.

Proposed Policy Statement

This Dekalb Peachtree Airport policy of the Board of Commissioners seeks a balance between the aviation industry and the residents and businesses of DeKalb County which are affected by operations at and from PDK.

Six levels of activity ensure this policy is applied openly, honestly and with full knowledge by all citizens of DeKalb County affected by PDK operations.

1) PDK has, and will continue to have, a “good neighbor” relationship with the communities and businesses affected by airport. PDK airport management will meet with representatives of the communities and businesses affected by airport to discuss existing and planned airport activity. Airport management will consult the Airport Advisory Board to determine the activity that should be discussed in the “good neighbor” context and to minimize adverse impact to the quality of life of those affected by airport operations.

2) The partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration is essential for the safe and responsible administration of airport activity and it will continue to be a foundation for DeKalb County aviation activity. It is the expressed policy of the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners that PDK was not intended to become an airport for scheduled passenger and/or cargo operations. This policy has been publicly noted and it is reinforced through this policy statement. Airport management will take appropriate steps allowable under FAA requirements to ensure scheduled passenger and/or cargo service does not operate at PDK. PDK will not expand its boundaries beyond the fence line existing in 1995 without approval of the Board of Commissioners. PDK will not expand or extend current runways nor will it construct new ones without approval of the Board of Commissioners. PDK will ensure all aircraft abide by DeKalb County Ordinance Section 6-93.

3) As the aviation industry changes, PDK continually changes. Since many of these changes have a direct impact on citizens of DeKalb County, airport management will analyze all actions which affect air, water, property value and ambient sound to learn its effect on the aviation industry and the community on, around and effected by the proposed change. For every significant action, airport management will propose a mitigation plan to reduce or eliminate the impacts from the proposed actions. No plans will be executed until these impacts are addressed in advance.

4) PDK is a self-sufficient entity in DeKalb County. It is the policy of the Board of Commissioners that PDK will remain self-sufficient and all needs beyond being self-sufficient will have the express approval of the Board of Commissioners.

5) Airport Management will develop a policy to mitigate noise containing written procedures, which will have the express approval of the Board of Commissioners prior to implementation.

6) To provide a continuing status report for PDK, Airport management will continue to prepare an annual “State of PDK” report for delivery to the governing board, the citizens of DeKalb County and the AAB, as currently provided in the Annual Development Report. This report will be released every January and will document the number and type of operations, the mix of aircraft, costs and benefits to DeKalb County from PDK operations, trends in the aviation industry which might impact PDK, results accruing from the noise mitigation/reduction plan, plans that will require changes in airport property or operations for the coming year, steps it has taken to ensure a “good neighbor” attitude and, a brief financial summary of airport revenues by source and by expenditure.