HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0480REOUESTED ACTION AND CONDITIONS: Rezone the property from R-20, Single
Family Residential Zoning District, RA, Residential Agricultural Zoning District, to M -2 -
CUD, Heavy Manufacturing Conditional Use Zoning District and change the conditions
of a portion on the existing M -2 -CUD. The conditions are as follows:
1. For the existing hangar, allow the following:
o Aviation related offices
o Avionics and interior airplane work
2. For the area proposed to be rezoned, allow airplane tie downs
PROPOSED USE: All uses as listed in the conditions
SIZE: The parcel is 11.37 acres.
EXISTING LAND USE: Lake Norman Airport
SURROUNDING LAND USE: Lake Norman Airpark and residential
TRAFFIC: Yeager Road is not a state maintained road. Due to the low volume of traffic
on Catawba Air Road, there have not been any traffic counts done for this road.
ZONING HISTORY: (A separate fact sheet was included in the agenda packet).
STAFF COMMENTS: The request is in part a result of the previous case that was heard
and withdrawn in August. The conditions that are part of this request address many of
the objections that were heard in the last meeting.
Although this request would extend the existing M-2 (CUD) property to include more airplane
tie -downs, it would also remedy an ongoing enforcement problem. The area in question is
currently paved and used only for Dr. Wilson's planes. If there were infractions of this rule, it
would be very unlikely the staff would be aware of them. Rezoning this small area would allow
for the same number of planes to be stored, while not having a significant impact on the adjoining
vacant residential properties.
The changes in the conditions for the existing hangar are minor in comparison to what was
requested at the last meeting. An allowance for aviation related offices and minor airplane work
in the hangar are not unreasonable in the staffs opinion. Based on the relatively minor changes
that this request would have on the scope of the airport operations, the staff recommends
approval.
(end of staff report)
David Parker, an attorney representing Dr. Wilson, the property owner, said the request
involved the following three aspects:
1) A change of the conditions to allow the 7000 s.f hanger to be built out
2) The ability for the public to use the space for avionic services
3) A rezoning of the tie -down area for the purpose of allowing the public to also tie
down.
Parker said the requests would cause very little impact on plane traffic but a large impact
on the cash flow for his client. He said the neighbors would actually have a place for their planes
to be worked on locally, and this would reduce the amount of air traffic. Parker said the pilots
could drive down the airstrip for repairs instead of flying out to other locations. He said the tie -
down pad already existed, but Dr. Wilson desired permission to allow the public to use it.
Attorney Parker said seven planes could be accommodated. He said a notice from the Federal
Aviation Administration prohibited pilots from flying over the school, and most of them tried to
be responsible and obey the rules, but occasionally some people were unaware of the ruling and
disobeyed. Mr. Parker said (1) the airport couldn't be extended, (2) the buffers and taxiways
were there to stay, and (3) the airport could never become a commercial facility.
Butch Stevens (proponent): Stated the airpark was not a commercial facility. He said
no large aircraft was permitted at the site, and he desired to see some avionics.