PDK WATCH NEWSLETTER
August 2000
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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Thanks,
Commissioners
On July 26, 2000, the Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted
unanimously to change the land use and zoning designations on the
buyout property between Clairmont Road and PDK Airport. (Recall
that the BOC passed a resolution April 13 to use this property as
greenspace.) With the latest action they have given the
property a Park Open Space (POS) land use designation and an
R-200 zoning designation*.
Commissioners Gale Walldorff and Judy Yates spearheaded these
changes to ensure the property is used as greenspace. Please
send a note of thanks to Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Gale
Walldorff, Jacquie Scott, Ken Davis, Bill Brown, and Judy Yates
at 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur GA 30030.
*Under the current Comprehensive Plan POS does not have any
specified zoning categories assigned to it. The county
attorney suggested the R-200 zoning (a residential zoning
category) for POS.
FAA Wants
Reimbursement for Greenspace
In a July 24, 2000, letter Scott Seritt, manager of the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Airports District Office in
Atlanta, said the county would not receive the $3.5 million
needed to complete the buyout of homes unless the county tells
the FAA by August 15 how it plans to reimburse the FAA for the
purchase of the property the BOC designated as greenspace. This
is the property between Clairmont Road and PDK Airport purchased
for noise abatement and still serving that purpose.
Mr. Seritt met with county officials during a BOC work session on
August 1 to discuss this matter with the commissioners. During
this meeting he said:
·
a construction project currently underway on the airport will not
be affected
·
FAA expects reimbursement at the highest and best compatible use,
which is commercial
·
Congress is not interested in purchasing park land
Over the years the FAA has continually funded projects at PDK to
expand and improve airport operations. These projects
helped to create the uninhabitable areas that are now being
bought out through a noise abatement program. These buyouts
should have been done as part of the projects, not years
later. Now the FAA wants to withhold funding and delay the
buyouts even longer while allowing an FAA-funded construction
project underway at the airport to continue.
Earlier letters from FAA officials in Washington, D. C., stated
greenspace is an acceptable compatible use of property next to an
airport. They also stated that as long as property
purchased through a noise abatement program continues being used
for noise abatement, the owner does not have to reimburse the FAA
for the property. Further, the FAA has stated that any
required reimbursement can be based on greenspace, contrary to
Mr. Seritt’s comments.
Commissioner Judy Yates pointed out that the local governing body
sets land use, not Congress, and other county officials supported
her position. The current land use is Park Open Space and
current zoning is R-200. There is no intention of
commercial or industrial use.
Commissioner Gale Walldorff requested more time to resolve the
issue. CEO Liane Levetan asked for an extension until
November 15. Representatives for Congresswoman Cynthia
McKinney and Senator Max Cleland supported the request for an
extension. Mr. Seritt said he would respond within 48
hours.
Please write the commissioners thanking them for working to keep
the property as greenspace and encourage them to stand firm.
Also contact Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney at www.house.gov/mckinney,
Senator Max Cleland at www.senate.gov/~cleland,
and Governor Roy Barnes at www.ganet.org
asking for their support.
Proposed
Noise Abatement Policy by FAA in Review
Jim Duguay, PDK Airport’s Noise Specialist, announced
citizens have until August 28, 2000, to submit comments on the
FAA’s proposed Aviation Noise Abatement Policy 2000. To
read this policy document go to www.airportnet.org and
click first on Proposed Aviation Noise Abatement Policy and then
July 14, 2000 or go to www.pdkairport.org
and click on Noise Program, then the link to FAA Proposes New
National Noise Abatement Policy, and then July 14, 2000. Here
is an excerpt from the proposed policy directly effecting
homeowners:
“Residents and Prospective Residents in areas surrounding airports should seek to understand the noise problem and what steps can be taken to minimize its effect on people. Individual and community responses to aircraft noise differ substantially and, for some individuals, a reduced level of noise may not eliminate the annoyance or irritation. Prospective residents of areas impacted by airport noise thus should be aware of the effect of noise on their quality of life and act accordingly.”
Reminder:
Call 770-936-5442 to report intrusive noise from PDK Airport.
PDK Watch can be contacted by e-mail. The address:
<pdkwatch@yahoo.com>.
If you want to receive information by
e-mail, please e-mail your address.
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:
PDK
Watch
P.O.
Box 49325
Atlanta
GA 30359
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