EL PASO COUNTY
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE

Chapter IV - Section 30 A

Airport - General Aviation District   (OA-G)

This resolution creates a zone which shall apply to airports utilizing non-instrument run-ways for general aviation purposes.

B.   USES

No building or land shall be used and no building shall hereafter be erected, converted, or structurally altered unless otherwise provided herein, except for one or more of the following uses:

1.   Notwithstanding any other provisions of this zone, no use may be made of land within any zone established by this resolution in such a manner as to create electrical interference with radio communication between the airport and aircraft, make it difficult for flyers to distinguish between airport lights and others, result in glare in the eyes of flyers using the airport, impair visibility in the vicinity of the airport or otherwise endanger the landing, taking off, or maneuvering of aircraft.

2.   Airport Zone: Within the area designated as the Airport Zone, only the following zones are established provided said zones are established in conformance with the basic policies of the County's Comprehensive Plan:

a.   A-4 (Agricultural District)
b.   R-4 (Planned Unit Development) Center District)
c.   NBD (Neighborhood Business
d.   PBP (Planned Business Park
e.   PBC (Planned Business
f.   PID (Planned Industrial District) District)
g.   PHID (Planned Heavy District) Industrial District)

3.   ADDITIONAL USES SHALL BE PERMITTED

a.   Aero club facilities
b.   Aircraft maintenance facilities
c.   Airfields and landing strips
d.   Airport terminals, related supporting facilities
e.   Aviation control towers
f.    Hangars and tie-down facilities
g.    Navigation instruments and aids

The heights of structures and trees within the Airport Zone shall be limited to the height as defined in the Primary Surface, the Approach Clearance Surfaces, and the Transitional Surfaces.

4.   NONCONFORMING USES

a.   Regulations Not Retroactive: The regulations prescribed by this resolu-tion shall not be construed to require the removal, lowering or other changes or alteration of any structure or tree not conforming to the regula-tions as to the effective date of this regulation, or otherwise interfere with the continuance of any nonconforming use.

Nothing herein contained shall require any change in the construction, alteration, or intended use of any structure, the construction or alteration of which was begun prior to the effective date of this regulation, and is diligently prosecuted.

b.   Marking and Lighting: Notwithstanding the preceding provision of this section, the owner of any nonconforming structure or tree is hereby required to permit the installation, operation, and maintenance thereon of such markers and lights as shall be deemed necessary by the El Paso County Planning Commission to indicate to the operators of aircraft in the vicinity of the airport, the presence of such airport hazards. Such markers and lights shall be installed, operated, and maintained at the expense of the airport owner.

c.   Existing Airports: Nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect or regulate the operation of airports that have been given prior County approval. Such airports shall have one (1) year from the date of this resolution to petition for this airport zone to apply to present boundaries despite nonconformance with the regulations set forth herein. However, should such presently existing airports extend existing runways or create new runways, full compliance with the terms of this zone shall be required. Failure to petition for such change shall render such airports subject to all the rules and regulations affecting nonconforming uses.

C.   DEFINITIONS

As used in this zone, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.   Airport: Means a place on land or water where aircraft may land to discharge or receive cargo and passengers, make repairs or take on fuel. The runways are not instrumented for operations under instrument flight rules conditions and runways shall not be longer than seven thousand (7,000) feet.

2.   Airport Elevation: Means the established elevation of the airport above Mean Sea Level (MSL).

3.   Airport Hazard: Means any structure, tree or use of land which obstructs the air-space required for, or is otherwise hazardous to, the flight of aircraft in landing or taking off at the airport.

4.   Airport Reference Point: Means a point established as the approximate geographic center of the airport landing area and so designated on the airport zoning map.

5.   Datum Plane: Means a horizontal plane or surface which includes the surface point of the airport elevation at mean sea level.

6.   Height: For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones and shown on the zoning map, the datum shall be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.

7.   Landing Area: Means the area of the airport used for the landing, taking off or taxiing of aircraft.

8.   Runway: Means the hard surface of the Airport Landing Area used primarily for the landing and taking off of aircraft.

9.   Instrument Runway: A runway equipped or to be equipped with a precision electronic navigation aid or other landing aids or other air navigational facilities suitable to permit the landing of aircraft by an instrument approach under restricted visibility conditions.

10.   Non-Instrument Runway: Means a runway other than an instrument runway.

11.   Structure: Means an object constructed or installed by man, including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, smokestacks, overhead transmission lines, etc.

D.   ADDITIONAL SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS

The petition shall contain the following items:

l.   A map or diagram showing the area to be rezoned, indicating the Primary Surface, the Approach Clearance Surface and the Transitional Surface.

2.   A map or diagram showing existing and/or proposed runways, giving their dimensions and locations as they relate to the legal boundaries of the area proposed to be zoned.

3.   Airport Reference Point, as to its elevation, location relative to latitude and longi-tude and located with reference to section corners or quarter corners.

4.   Centerline profiles of the runway(s).

5.   Evidence that the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified regarding application for approval of airspace.

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