18A.60.080 Airport Overlays – Small Airports.
A. Purpose. The purpose of the Airport Overlay-Small Airports zone classification, AIR SA, is to minimize land use incompatibilities for small airports, such as the Shady Acres Airport in Graham/Frederickson and Eatonville Airport (Swanson Field) in Eatonville. Provisions of this Section address reduction of incompatibilities through limitations on usage intensity and other land use characteristics which could affect the severity of an aircraft accident. Mitigation and attenuation features may be appropriate, depending upon the situation.
B. Height Standard. For each airport, any buildings or structures that would penetrate the imaginary airspace surfaces as defined in Title 14 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) FAR (Federal Aviation Regulations), Section 77.25 "Civil Airport Imaginary Surfaces, Objects affecting navigable airspace," or would otherwise be required to file FAA Form 7460-1 in accordance with Title 14 CFR FAR 77.13 "Construction or alteration requiring notice," and are determined by the FAA to both exceed obstruction standards and to pose a hazard to air traffic, shall mitigate the hazard through lighting or other means acceptable to the FAA. Hazards which cannot be mitigated shall be prohibited. These height standards are in addition to other compatibility standards required within the overlay classification.
C. Compatibility Standards by Safety Compatibility Zones. Compatibility standards within the Airport Overlay – Small Airports zone classification vary depending on the specific safety compatibility zone (zones 1 through 6) within the overlay and are in addition to and supersede the standards for the underlying zone.
1. Zone 1, Runway protection zone.
a. Prohibit new structures, residential or non-residential, unless needed as an accessory to an existing use.
2. Zone 2, Inner approach/departure zone.
a. Allow new residential uses at rural densities only. Accessory uses to residential are permitted.
b. New nonresidential civic uses where people congregate, such as day care centers, schools and educational facilities,, churches, hospitals and nursing homes:
(1) Shady Acres Airport. Prohibit these uses unless below the threshold of 40 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 80 people for any single acre within the development site in the rural zones and 60 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 120 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban zones.
(2) Eatonville Airport. These uses are prohibited.
c. Allow new nonresidential utility, commercial and industrial uses only at no higher intensity than 60 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 120 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban non-residential zone classifications.
d. Prohibit hazardous material handling and storage, other than incidental small scale uses accessory to primary use, except that underground storage tanks are allowed.
3. Zone 3, Inner turning zone.
a. Allow new residential uses at rural densities or as infill up to the average density of surrounding residential area.
b. New nonresidential civic uses where people congregate, such as large day care centers, schools and educational facilities, churches, hospitals and nursing homes:
(1) Shady Acres Airport. Prohibit these uses unless below the threshold of 80 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 160 people for any single acre within the development site in the rural zones and 100 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 200 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban zones.
(2) Eatonville Airport. Same as Shady Acres Airport, except schools and daycare centers are prohibited.
c. Allow new nonresidential utility, commercial and industrial uses at no higher intensity than 100 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 200 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban nonresidential zone classifications.
d. Allow aboveground hazardous material handling and storage uses that store greater than 6,000 gallons only if no feasible alternative is available and the facility is designed for risk reduction.
4. Zone 4, Outer approach/departure zone.
a. Allow new residential uses at rural densities or as infill up to the average density of surrounding residential area.
b. New nonresidential civic uses where people congregate, such as large day care centers, schools and educational facilities, churches, hospitals and nursing homes:
(1) Shady Acres Airport. Prohibit these uses unless below the threshold of 80 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 240 people for any single acre within the development site in the rural zones and 100 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 300 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban zones.
(2) Eatonville Airport. Same as Shady Acres Airport, except schools are prohibited.
c. Allow new nonresidential utility, commercial and industrial uses at no higher intensity than 100 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 300 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban nonresidential zone classifications.
5. Zone 5, Sideline zone.
a. Allow residential uses on properties linked to the airport at rural densities. Other new residential uses are allowed only at rural densities or as infill up to the average density of surrounding residential area.
b. Prohibit new nonresidential civic uses where people congregate, such as large day care centers, schools and educational facilities, churches, hospitals and nursing homes:
c. Allow new nonresidential utility, commercial and industrial uses only if they are related to aviation or airport operations, and at no higher intensity than 20 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 40 people for any single acre within the development site in the urban nonresidential zone classifications.
6. Zone 6, Traffic pattern zone.
a. Allow residential uses consistent with underlying zone.
b. Prohibit new nonresidential civic uses where people congregate, such as large daycare centers, schools and educational facilities, churches, hospitals and nursing homes, and stadia unless below the threshold of 150 people per acre for the total acreage of the development site or up to 450 people for any single acre within the development site.
c. Allow industrial and commercial uses consistent with the underlying zone.
D. Split Parcels. When the zoning overlay splits a parcel, the overlay restrictions will only apply to those portions of the parcel within the overlay.
E. Disclosure. Prior to issuance of a Building Permit for new construction within the Airport Overlay-Small Airport, the property owner must sign an airport proximity disclosure statement, provided by the Pierce County Department of Planning and Public Works, at the time permits are applied for, and record it in the Pierce County Auditor's office. The disclosure statement acknowledges that the property is located within the Airport Overlay for the specific airport and that the property may be impacted by low flying aircraft, noise, vibration, odors, and other associated aviation activities.
F. Airport-Related Uses. On the airport property, airport-related uses needed to support aircraft operations are allowed; provided all building, fire, health, and other State and Federal regulations are met.
G. Lighting. Lighting, other than that used for marking potential hazards to air navigation, should be directed downward so it does not cause glare for pilots, and should be arranged such that it does not approximate runway lighting.