On November 6, 2001, Airport Director Lee Remmel made a presentation about a Sound Insulation Program (SIP) to the Board of Commissioners. In this program federal funds and matching airport funds would be used to soundproof buildings that meet certain criteria. One of the criteria is having the building meet county codes before it would qualify for soundproofing funds. This program would not fund the correction of existing code violations. Here is one person's critique of the proposed program from documents presented to the commissioners.
November 16, 2001
While the lack of security has not yet
been resolved at the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), the
current Airport Director, Lee Remmel has presented to the
Board of Commissioners (BOC) another program designed to
remove a homeowners rights. The Sound Insulation Program
(SIP) is designed to provide upgrades to your home, at the
county’s expense, in exchange for the avigation rights
above it. Possible upgrades include HVAC, storm or
replacement windows, doors, and insulation.
The Airport Director has used the Airport Compatibility Overlay District (ACOD) maps to determine the number of single-family units (864), multi-family units (1857) and churches (4) effected. This program would require the county to take more funding from the FAA at approximately $3M per year. Airport revenue would contribute $300K per year. The project timeline is somewhere between 8 and 16 years for completion.
What Mr. Remmel presented to the BOC is
that the homeowner would receive:
· Quieter interior of the house (You must stay in your home to enjoy the benefit. Outside your house would be noisier because you gave up the avigation rights over your home.)
· Improve overall value of the house (as all home improvements do)
· Improve the entire neighborhood (not sure how bigger, noisier and more planes improve the neighborhood)
What the county receives:
· Avigation Easement
The FAR Part 150 study was completed in
1997. It was done to evaluate the noise impact of the airport
on the surrounding neighborhoods. The results were to be used
to make recommendation to the county and the FAA using
alternate flight patterns to minimize noise. The findings
have never been implemented.
While the SIP attempts to reduce the
decibel level of noise inside your home, implementing the FAR
Part 150 study recommended flight patterns would reduce the
levels inside and outside your home. A reduction of 5
decibels is equivalent to “doubling” the distance
of the aircraft from your roof. Moving flight patterns over
commercial areas and roadways would reduce the noise to
tolerant levels at a much greater savings to the county and
would not require the same FAA funding. A reduction in
aircraft over the neighborhoods would certainly improve the
neighborhoods at no cost.
Commissioner Gale Waldorff has suggested
that the flight patterns be changed and set according to the
FAR Part 150 study before the county implements a sound
insulation program. The current ACOD maps used would also be
re-evaluated. Gale also added that money is limited and
should be allocated towards improving safety first.
Airport Director, Lee Remmel and the
city of Chamblee would like to see a particular contractor
(Terrell, Hundley, Carroll) get the job of acting as primary
contractor for the implementation of the program.
Please contact your BOC. Urge them to
continue their focus on security, stringent rules on weight
limits and implementing the FAR Part 150 study findings to
alter the flight patterns. Thank them for their understanding
of the impact of the airport on our neighborhood and the
efforts they have made so far. Finally, make your voice known
and your vote count when it’s needed the most.
Mike Principino
Airport Committee Chair
Drew Valley Civic Association