HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_1629A copy of the ordinance is as follows:
IREDELL COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
SUSPENSION OF NEW WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER APPROVALS
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, Iredell County, as a part of the greater Charlotte region, has experienced rapid
growth in recent years leading to significant increases in the County's population and employment
growth; and
WHEREAS, the Statesville Regional Airport has also experienced changes as a response to this
growth in the form of major expansion in order to meet the growing needs of a larger county population
and airport client base; and
WHEREAS, the Statesville Regional Airport has expanded physically through the addition of
property for runways, hangars, and related infrastructure; technically through the addition of
sophisticated instrumentation equipment; and in their customer/client base by adding additional long-
term tenants, including the Lowe's air facility; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County and the City of Statesville have made substantial economic
investments in said improvements through local, state, and federal financial contributions; and
WHEREAS, the Statesville Regional Airport provides a substantial economic benefit to the
citizens of Iredell County in the form of economic development and increased tax base; and
WHEREAS, it is an essential role of local government to protect its vital public resources,
inclusive of the Statesville Regional Airport; and
WHEREAS, Iredell County and the City of Statesville have acted to protect the Statesville
Regional Airport by concurrently adopting an Airport Hazard Overlay Ordinance in 2004; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina, in the Model Airport Zoning Act, authorized local
governments to adopt regulations designed to protect the health, safety and general welfare of their
citizenry by passage of said ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the County is authorized by North Carolina General Statute 153A-340 to prepare,
adopt, and amend land use related administrative regulations and ordinances, as necessary; and
WHEREAS, the County intends to adopt upon completion of its review process, an updated and
revised Airport Hazard Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Airport Hazard Ordinance, in its current form, may not adequately address the
concern for public protection due to changes in aircraft technology; and
WHEREAS, the County has determined that wireless telecommunications towers within the
Airport Hazard Overlay may have a detrimental effect on public safety; and
WHEREAS, the County has determined that a temporary suspension of the approval of wireless
telecommunication towers within a ten mile radius of the Statesville Regional Airport is necessary during
the period of the temporary suspension; and
WHEREAS, the County Planning Staff, in consultation with City Staff and airport consultants,
will undertake research and prepare the necessary draft revisions to the Airport Hazard Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the new Airport Hazard Ordinance will better protect and promote the general
welfare of the citizens of Iredell County; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina General Statute 153A-340 (h) requires that the following points be
clearly addressed prior to adopting said temporary suspension:
1. "A clear statement of the problems or conditions necessitating the moratorium and what
courses of action, alternative to a moratorium, were considered by the county and why those
alternative courses of action were not deemed adequate. "
The Statesville Regional Airport has recently undergone major improvements to allow for
precision approach landings on Runway 28 (approach from the east). This necessitated the
amendment of the Iredell County Airport Hazard Ordinance in 2004 to insure the protection of