Page 176 - Planning and Design of Airports

Airport Planning Studies 143

closely related to aviation or remotely related to aviation. Those
closely related to aviation use include the runways, taxiways,
aprons, terminal buildings, parking, and maintenance facilities.
Nonaviation uses include space for recreational, industrial, and
commercial activities. When considering commercial or industrial
activities, care should be taken to ensure that they will not interfere
with aircraft operations, communications equipment, and aids to
navigation on the ground. Recreational facilities such as golf courses
may be suitable within the immediate proximity of the airport
boundary or certain agricultural uses are also appropriate as long as
they do not attract birds. When there is acreage within the airport
boundary in excess of aviation needs, it is sound fiscal planning to
provide the greatest financial return from leases of the excess prop-
erty. Thus the land-use plan within the airport is a very effective
tool in helping airport management make decisions concerning
requests for land use by various interests and often airports delin-
eate areas on the airport property for the development of industrial
parks.
The principal objective of the land-use plan for areas outside the
airport boundary is to minimize the disturbing effects of noise. As
stated earlier the delineation of noise contours is the most promising
approach for establishing noise-sensitive areas. The contours define
the areas which are or are not suitable for residential use or other use
and, likewise, those which are suitable for light industrial, commer-
cial, or recreational activity. Although the responsibility for develop-
ing land uses adjacent to the airport lies with the governing bodies of
adjacent communities, the land-use plan provided by the airport
authority will greatly influence and assist the governing bodies in
their task of establishing comprehensive land-use zoning.

Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental factors must be considered carefully in the develop-
ment of a new airport or the expansion of an existing one. In the
United States, this is a requirement of the Airport and Airway
Improvement Act of 1982 and the Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
Studies of the impact of the construction and operation of a new air-
port or the expansion of an existing one upon acceptable levels of air
and water quality, noise levels, ecological processes, and demographic
development of the region must be conducted to determine how the
airport requirements can best be met with minimal adverse environ-
mental and social consequences.
Aircraft noise is the severest environmental problem to be consid-
ered in the development of airport facilities. Much has been done to
quiet engines and modify flight procedures, resulting in substantial
reductions in noise. Another effective means for reducing noise is
through proper planning of land use for areas adjacent to the airport.
For an existing airport this may be difficult as the land may have