PDK WATCH NEWSLETTER
July
1999
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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Proposed Expansion of PDK Airport up for
Vote
On August 2 the
Board of Commissioners will hear a request for rezoning property.
The applicant wants to build an airplane hangar. Please see
the enclosed sheet detailing the reasons this request should be
denied, and then please take the time to do the following:
- Write to
the commissioners at 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA, 30030,
urging them to deny the rezoning request and preserve our quality
of life.
- Urge your
neighbors to join you in the protest against airport expansion.
- Attend the
rezoning hearing on August 2 at 7:00 P.M. at the Maloof
Auditorium to let
the
commissioners know you do not want expansion.
It is time to stop operational growth,
protect the neighborhoods, and begin the clean up from the
damage caused by the airport. Let’s
see if our elected officials really mean it when they say the
airport will not expand.
Will PDK Become Hartsfield North?
The biggest fear we
have about our County-owned and operated airport is that it will
become Hartsfield North. We have seen movement in this
direction over the years despite the public statements of elected
officials, airport management, and airport users. The
community wants to see action from elected officials that
prevents a Hartsfield North.
Public statements
made by our CEO not supported with public action will not protect
our investment and quality of life. We demand an ordinance
stating PDK will not become a regularly scheduled cargo or
passenger airport, a strong and enforceable rule that planes
weighing more than 66,000 pounds are not allowed into our
airport, and no growth of the airport or its operations,
especially into property purchased for noise abatement.
These three things
are essential. If you do not want Hartsfield North, you
must let our CEO know. If we do not act now, do not be
surprised at what will continue to happen to us on an incremental
basis.
Elected
officials are listening to us. Continue your letters and
calls demanding action.
Key messages: 1) no
expansion of airport or its operations, 2) enforcement of the
66,000-pound weight limit policy, 3) an ordinance prohibiting
regularly scheduled passenger and cargo service.
Write: CEO
Liane Levetan, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur GA 30030.
Weight Limit
In CEO Liane
Levetan’s memorandum to Airport Director Lee Remmel on the
weight limit of planes at PDK Airport, she says she “can
find no rational basis to deny prior authorization for corporate
and private aircraft which have been designed to comply with the
federal aviation noise levels of stage II or greater, and which
may exceed 66,000 pounds.” There are several excellent
reasons to deny airplanes weighing over 66,000 pounds from using
our airport.
One, the weight
limit is mandated in longstanding county policy and ordinance,
which the CEO is charged to implement and enforce. The
66,000-pound weight limit policy is documented in an
environmental assessment to the FAA, the FAA’s review of
this assessment, a decision by the 11th circuit court, the PDK
Airport Master Plan, and a Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study.
Two, an FAA
memorandum says, “In general, . . . the lower the maximum
weight of an airplane, the lower the noise.”
Three, a long
ignored ordinance, now being used to rationalize heavier planes,
clearly tosses these heavier planes into the same category as
blimps, dirigibles, gliders, free balloons, and motorless
aircraft when it says prior authorization is required for landing
or taking off. Without a doubt, this ordinance intends for
the heavier planes to be the exception not the rule.
Four, county policy
requires an environmental study be conducted before any change is
made. Allowing heavier planes breaches policy.
Five, changing the
weight limit without the proper public notice and review is in
violation of the rights of the community whose quality of life is
most affected.
Six, allowing the
larger planes makes it easier for regularly scheduled service to
move into the airport. Result: Hartsfield North.
In a meeting with
several residents from neighborhoods near the airport, CEO
Levetan said she is reworking her administrative policy
concerning the weight limit. PDK Watch awaits the
opportunity to review the modifications, which should include a
clear procedure on how prior authorization is given and how
violators will be penalized.
Comprehensive Plan Amendments under
Consideration
The Board of
Commissioners plan to vote on the amendments to the Comprehensive
Plan in August. Let your commissioners know that of the
several amendments concerning PDK Airport, the amendments
that state the weight limit policy of 66,000 pounds and the use
of buyout properties as greenspace are most important in
maintaining our quality of life.
PDK Watch Needs Your Support
PDK Watch is
grateful to those of you who send in a 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:
Sven O. Lovegren
Attn.: PDK Watch
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.