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By Rose Hooper
An increase of second-home owners in Jackson County, many of whom
have their own planes, will promote activity at the Jackson County
airport, according to county economic development officials.
Currently, the airport experiences heavy use from Wal-Mart, Harrah’s
Cherokee Casino and Hotel, law enforcement drug surveillance,
and the military, according to Airport Authority Chairman Tom
McClure.
Of 15 pilots who now have planes at the airport, all live in Jackson
County except one, McClure said, pointing out the need for increased
space for out-of-town users.
For the first order of business, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners
has asked the newly-formed planning board to address concerns
at the 30-year-old airport.
"We want to use the airport as an economic development tool,"
McClure, who is also chairman of the county economic development
commission, told planning board members during their first meeting
Monday, Nov. 17.
"We are in the process of a 20-year plan for the airport,"
McClure said. The plan will take into consideration new requirements
imposed by the Federal Aviation Authority.
Each year, the county airport authority is eligible for $150,000
in federal funds, which have to matched 10 percent from a combination
of state and local funds.
"To meet these new requirements, and to be eligible for the
funds, one of the first things we have to do is adopt a hazard
zoning ordinance," McClure said.
Newly-appointed county planner Linda Thomas, presiding over the
planning board, presented each member a copy of the ordinance
for review.
It’s purpose is to "regulate the development, growth,
or construction of objects that may become hazards to air traffic
utilizing the Jackson County Airport."
"One item you will be considering is a height ordinance,
which, in part, deals with towers, such as cell towers, and is
required to protect the airport from liability," McClure
said.
Planning board member Raymond Ledford said he understood that
the ordinance needed to be adopted so the county could receive
federal airport funding.
"In the past our airport has been seen as an albatross. Won’t
some see this action as simply pouring good money into a bad thing?"
Ledford said.
In addition, Ledford wanted to know the planning board’s
role in relationship to the Smart Growth Task Force.
"I’m new at this," said Thomas, who began her duties
Nov. 1, "but my understanding is that the task force brings
items before us. Our job is to look at those and then make recommendations
to the county commissioners."
The planning board will meet at the Justice and Administration
Center at 4 p.m. today (Thursday) and will ride together to the
Jackson County Airport for an on-site evaluation before they act
on the ordinance.
Planning board members took action on a sign variance request
submitted by John Wittekind, county building inspector.
The board approved a variance for Allison Outdoor Advertising
to relocate a set of advertising boards in Barkers Creek on property
owned by Steve Cooper. The variance allows the sign to be closer
to another billboard than the ordinance allows.
For several years Allison had signs in place at that location
but recently an on-premise board was installed on the neighboring
property. Since the new board – a tourist information center
sign not covered by county regulations – blocks their sign,
Allison requested a variance to relocate, Thomas said as she distributed
before and after photographs.
While the county ordinance requires one face per directional flow
and 500 feet spacing between signs, the board granted a variance
for two 300-square-foot faces and a decrease in spacing to 300
feet. The standards meet N.C. Department of Transportation requirements,
Thomas said.
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