Worried that a subdivision

planned just south of Falcon Field could stunt the airport's future growth,

the Peachtree City Airport Authority wants to share its concerns with

city officials.

Authority members are also

concerned about the noise level, since the subdivision would be directly

in the final approach course for aircraft landing at Falcon Field.

At its regular meeting Wednesday

night, authority member Jerry Cobb said planes can make significant noise

when they land because their engines are at full power.

Authority Chairman Cathy Nelmes

pointed out that the airport plans to install a precision approach system

in the near future, and that would have planes flying just 600 feet over

the proposed subdivision.

"We're concerned about

what we'll do to the people in that area and what we'll do to their quality

of life," Nelmes said. "We're open 24 hours a day because of

the federal funds we receive."

Nelmes also said the authority

is concerned about protecting its ability to grow since it's important

for the airport to become self-sufficient financially.

Thomas Stephens, whose mother

owns the tract for the proposed subdivision, said city officials approached

them about developing it residentially instead of for industrial uses.

The land is currently zoned for industrial use and will require a rezoning

to change it for residential use, but the city's land use plan designates

that the property could be considered for low density residential development.

"It's news to us that

the city has come to you and said they want it to be residential,"

Nelmes said.

Authority attorney Doug Warner

said he hoped that if the subdivision is approved by the city, deed covenants

would be used to warn potential homeowners that the airport is nearby

and will increase its operations in future years.

Warner noted that deed covenants

were used for Planterra Ridge.

Airport Manager Jim Savage

noted that although Falcon Field doesn't currently have a maintenance

or air freight operation on site, those businesses can add to the noise

problems. Jet planes that visit Falcon Field occasionally also can create

a significant amount of noise, he added.

The proposed 121-home subdivision

would be located just north of Rockaway Road, about 9,500 feet from the

end of the runway, Savage said.

City officials have said it

makes sense to change the tract to residential use because Flat Creek

serves as a boundary between the property and the rest of the city's industrial

park.

While Planterra Ridge is closer

to the other end of the runway than the proposed subdivision would be,

takeoff patterns force pilots to turn west and avoid flying over the subdivision,

Savage noted.

Stephens said it was disappointing

that opposition was developing to the plans since city officials had initiated

the idea of making the property residential. He noted that his family

has owned the land for over 150 years.

Nelmes said the authority wasn't

made aware of that plan until two months ago when it read about it in

the paper. She added that the authority doesn't want to get into a situation

like DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, which is buying homes that were built too

close to the airport.

Cobb said the authority needs

to share the facts about the proposal instead of taking a concrete position.

Nelmes will meet with the property owner and city officials to share the

authority's concerns.

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