[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Latrobe 4-13-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-5. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Zoning — See Ch. 166.
§ 100-1 Purpose.
§ 100-2 Relation to other zoning districts.
§ 100-3 Definitions.
§ 100-4 Establishment of airport zones.
§ 100-5 Permit applications.
§ 100-6 Variances.
§ 100-7 Use restrictions.
§ 100-8 Preexisting nonconforming uses.
§ 100-9 Obstruction marking and lighting.
§ 100-10 Violations and penalties.
§ 100-11 Appeals.
§ 100-12 Conflicting regulations.
§ 100-1 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to create an Airport District
Overlay that considers safety issues around the Arnold Palmer Regional
Airport, regulates and restricts the heights of constructed structures
and objects of natural growth, creates appropriate zones, establishing
the boundaries thereof and providing for changes in the restrictions
and boundaries of such zones, creates the permitting process for use
within said zones and provides for enforcement, assessment of violation
penalties, an appeals process, and judicial review.
§ 100-2 Relation to other zoning districts.
The Airport District Overlay shall not modify the boundaries
of any underlying zoning district. Where identified, the Airport District
Overlay shall impose certain requirements on land use and construction
in addition to those contained in the underlying zoning district.
§ 100-3 Definitions.
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise.
- AIRPORT ELEVATION
- The highest point of an airport's useable landing area measured in feet above sea level. The airport elevation of the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport.
- AIRPORT HAZARD
- Any structure or object, natural or man-made, or use of land which obstructs the airspace required for flight or aircraft in landing or taking off at an airport or is otherwise hazardous as defined in 14 CFR 77 and 74 Pa.C.S.A. § 5102.
- AIRPORT HAZARD AREA
- Any area of land or water upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided for in this chapter and Act 164 of 1984 (Pennsylvania laws relating to aviation).
- APPROACH SURFACE (ZONE)
- An imaginary surface longitudinally centered on the extended runway center line and extending outward and upward from each end of the primary surface. An approach surface is applied to each end of the runway based on the planned approach. The inner edge of the approach surface is the same width as the primary surface and expands uniformly depending on the planned approach. The approach surface zone, as shown on Figure 1,[1] is derived from the approach surface.
- CONICAL SURFACE (ZONE)
- An imaginary surface extending outward and upward from the periphery of the horizontal surface at a slope of 20 feet horizontally to one foot vertically for a horizontal distance of 4,000 feet. The conical surface zone, as shown on Figure 1,[2] is based on the conical surface.
- DEPARTMENT
- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
- FAA
- Federal Aviation Administration of the United States Department of Transportation.
- HEIGHT
- For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones set forth in this chapter and shown on the Zoning Map, the datum shall be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.
- HORIZONTAL SURFACE (ZONE)
- An imaginary plane 150 feet above the established airport elevation that is constructed by swinging arcs of various radii from the center of the end of the primary surface and then connecting the adjacent arc by tangent lines. The radius of each arc is based on the planned approach. The horizontal surface zone, as shown on Figure 1,[3] is derived from the horizontal surface.
- LARGER-THAN-UTILITY RUNWAY
- A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller-driven aircraft of greater than 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight and jet-powered aircraft.
- NONCONFORMING USE
- Any preexisting structure, object of natural growth, or use of land which is inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter or an amendment thereto.
- NONPRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
- A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing air navigation facilities with only horizontal guidance, or area type navigation equipment, for which a straight-in nonprecision instrument approach procedure has been approved or planned.
- OBSTRUCTION
- Any structure, growth, or other object, including a mobile object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth by this chapter.
- PRECISION INSTRUMENT RUNWAY
- A runway having an existing instrument approach procedure utilizing an instrument landing system (ILS) or a precisions approach radar (PAR). It also means a runway for which a precision approach system is planned and is so indicated on an approved airport layout plan or any other planning document.
- PRIMARY SURFACE (ZONE)
- An imaginary surface longitudinally centered on the runway, extending 200 feet beyond the end of paved runways or ending at each end of turf runways. The elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway centerline. The primary surface zone, as shown on Figure 1,[4] is derived from the primary surface.
- RUNWAY
- A defined area of an airport prepared for landing and takeoff of aircraft along its length.
- STRUCTURE
- An object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by man, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formation and overhead transmission lines.
- TRANSITIONAL SURFACE (ZONE)
- An imaginary surface that extends outward and upward from the edge of the primary surface to the horizontal surface at a slope of seven feet horizontally to one foot vertically (7:1). The transitional surface zone, as shown on Figure 1,[5] is derived from the transitional surface.
- TREE
- Any object of natural growth.
- UTILITY RUNWAY
- A runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller-driven aircraft of 12,500 pounds maximum gross weight or less.
- VISUAL RUNWAY
- A runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures.
§ 100-4 Establishment of airport zones.
There are hereby created and established certain zones within the Airport District Overlay ordinance, defined in § 100-3 and depicted on Figure 1 and illustrated on Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Hazard Area Map,[1] hereby adopted as part of this chapter, which include:
A.
Approach Surface Zone.
B.
Conical Surface Zone.
C.
Horizontal Surface Zone.
D.
Primary Surface Zone.
E.
Transitional Surface Zone.
[1]
Editor's Note: Figure 1 and said map are on file in the
City offices.
§ 100-5 Permit applications.
A.
As regulated by Act 164 and defined by 14 CFR 77.13(a) (as amended or replaced), any person who plans to erect a new structure, to add to an existing structure, or to erect and maintain any object (natural or man-made), in the vicinity of the airport, shall first notify the Department's Bureau of Aviation (BOA) by submitting PENNDOT Form AV-57 to obtain an obstruction review of the proposal at least 30 days prior to commencement thereof. The Department's BOA response must be included with this permit application for it to be considered complete. If the Department's BOA returns a determination of no penetration of airspace, the permit request should be considered in compliance with the intent of this chapter. If the Department's BOA returns a determination of a penetration of airspace, the permit shall be denied, and the project sponsor may seek a variance from such regulations as outlined in § 100-6.
B.
No permit is required to make maintenance repairs to or to replace
parts of existing structures which do not enlarge or increase the
height of an existing structure.
§ 100-6 Variances.
A.
Any request for a variance shall include documentation in compliance
with 14 CFR 77, Subpart B (FAA Form 7460-1, as amended or replaced).
Determinations of whether to grant a variance will depend on the determinations
made by the FAA and the Department's BOA as to the effect of
the proposal on the operation of air navigation facilities and the
safe, efficient use of navigable air space. In particular, the request
for a variance shall consider in which of the following categories
the FAA has placed the proposed construction:
(1)
No objection: The subject construction is determined not to exceed
obstruction standards, and marking/lighting is not required to mitigate
potential hazards. Under this determination, a variance shall be granted.
(2)
Conditional determination: The proposed construction/alteration is determined to create some level of encroachment into an airport hazard area which can be effectively mitigated. Under this determination, a variance shall be granted contingent upon implementation of mitigating measures as described in § 100-9, Obstruction marking and lighting.
(3)
Objectionable: The proposed construction/alteration is determined
to be a hazard and is thus objectionable. A variance shall be denied
and the reasons for this determination shall be outlined to the applicant.
B.
Such requests for variances shall be granted where it is duly found
that a literal application or enforcement of the regulations will
result in unnecessary hardship and that relief granted will not be
contrary to the public interest, will not create a hazard to air navigation,
will do substantial justice, and will be in accordance with the intent
of this chapter.
§ 100-7 Use restrictions.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, no use
shall be made of land or water within the Airport District Overlay
in such a manner as to create electrical interference with navigational
signals or radio communications between the airport and aircraft,
make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airport lights
and others, impair visibility in the vicinity of the airport, create
bird strike hazards or otherwise endanger or interfere with the landing,
takeoff or maneuvering of aircraft utilizing the Arnold Palmer Regional
Airport.
§ 100-8 Preexisting nonconforming uses.
The regulations prescribed by this chapter shall not be construed
to require the removal, lowering, or other change or alteration of
any structure or tree not conforming to the regulations as of the
effective date of this chapter, or otherwise interfere with the continuance
of a nonconforming use. No nonconforming use shall be structurally
altered or permitted to grow higher, so as to increase the nonconformity,
and a nonconforming use, once substantially abated (subject to the
underlying zoning ordinance), may only be reestablished consistent
with the provisions herein.
§ 100-9 Obstruction marking and lighting.
Any permit or variance granted pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may be conditioned according to the process described in § 100-6 to require the owner of the structure or object of natural growth in question to permit the municipality, at its own expense, or require the person requesting the permit or variance, to install, operate, and maintain such marking or lighting as deemed necessary to assure both ground and air safety.
§ 100-10 Violations and penalties.
§ 100-11 Appeals.
Subject to the process in the underlying Zoning Ordinance.[1]
§ 100-12 Conflicting regulations.
Where there exists a conflict between any of the regulations
or limitations prescribed in this chapter and any other regulation
applicable to the same area, the more stringent limitation or requirement
shall govern and prevail.