PDK WATCH NEWSLETTER
November 1998
PDK
Watch’s purpose is to protect and assure the future of our
established residential neighborhoods and quality of life in the
area affected by PDK Airport.
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PDK Watch to the Rescue
Thanks to the
diligence of PDK Watch members, an illegal operation causing
congestion and safety problems was closed down on airport
property. In May of this year, the owners of Oriental Mall
allowed the flea market, which was previously at the I-85
drive-in movie, to operate in the parking lot along Dresden
Drive. Most of this parking lot property belongs to the
airport but is leased to the shopping center for parking only.
An administrative variance was made by the county’s
development department in violation of an existing county lease.
Persistence on the part of members of PDK Watch in reporting this
illegal activity and monitoring the situation resulted in closing
down the illegal market.
Airport Master Plan Update
In 1992 PDK Airport
developed a master plan that included a list of infrastructure
improvements to the airport. Now that most of the
recommended improvements have been accomplished, airport
management is seeking an architect/engineer to update this aspect
of the Master Plan. This calls for WATCHING.
Noise Monitoring Equipment
Jim DuGuay, PDK
Airport Noise Specialist, announced to the Airport Advisory Board
on October 14, 1998, that the airport purchased a state of the
art noise monitoring system, Airport Noise and Monitoring System
(ANOMS), that will allow PDK airport staff to accurately monitor
airplane noise. The airport staff projects the installation
of the ANOMS system will occur in April 1999. This
technology offers the airport staff an opportunity to develop and
implement a written policy for dealing with noise.
Comprehensive Plan Amendments Get
Community Input
Drew Valley Civic
Association (DVCA) members, Taylor Murray and Carl Scharfe, along
with Commissioner Judy Yates are protecting the quality of life
in our community. When the Airport Advisory Board discussed
Lee Remmel’s proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan
during its September 1998 meeting, DVCA members recommended
changing the proposed language to include the community’s
concerns. Their efforts resulted in amendments that the
community could support. Commissioner Yates, who was also
present at this meeting, was instrumental in guiding the revised
amendments through the administrative process for inclusion in
the comprehensive plan for the county.
Two statements in
the adopted amendments establish policy that PDK Watch has long
advocated. These are 1) “It is the policy of the Board
of Commissioners to consider the impacts of development upon
existing business and community areas.” This
recognizes that PDK Airport does not exist in a vacuum. 2)
“As the owner and operator of DeKalb Peachtree Airport we
are unequivocally opposed to any change to our designation from a
general aviation reliever airport to a non-hub commercial service
airport or any category of commercial service airport.”
Airport Buy Out Report
With noise
abatement funding from the Federal Aviation and Administration
(FAA) and PDK Airport, DeKalb County purchased 49 properties
adjacent to the airport. In late September the airport
acquired a matching grant from the FAA of $188,000 which will
allow DeKalb County to purchase additional properties in the
noise abatement program. After the purchase of each
property is complete, the airport demolishes the home. Currently,
DeKalb County maintains the properties as greenspace with no
public plans for their ultimate use. This calls for
WATCHING.
Airport Advisory Board Meetings
The Airport
Advisory Board (AAB) meets the second Wednesday of each month at
6:30 P.M. Airport Director Lee Remmel describes activities
ongoing at the airport during the meetings. You can raise
your concerns when public comment is heard at the end of the
meeting. The next AAB meeting will be Wednesday, December 9,
1998, at the Airport Administration Building (same building as
the Downwind restaurant), 2nd floor Room 227 (follow the
signs posted on the door of the Airport Administration Building).
The airport administration Building is located off Clairmont
road. For better directions and a meeting agenda call Cindy
Walsham at the airport, 770-936-5440.
Disturbed by loud flights or flights at
night?
Call the PDK
Airport noise complaint line (770-936-5442) to report intrusive
noise.
Support PDK Watch
Thanks to those of
you who have sent your check to help with the cost of printing
and mailing the newsletter. To contribute to this fund,
please make a check payable to Sven O. Lovegren and note
on the check that it is for PDK Watch. Then please mail to:
PDK Watch
c/o Sven Lovegren
2331 Annapolis
Court
Atlanta GA 30345
Please copy and distribute this
newsletter, but remember that no copy goes into a mailbox without
the proper postage.
Try this website: www.eltoroairport.org