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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