Title
Consider the appointment of two representatives to the Austin Executive Airport’s Joint Airport Zoning Board.
Body
The Austin Executive Airport opened in 2009 as a corporate and general aviation airport that can accommodate small jets. As recommended by the FAA and enabled by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 241, airport management requests that Round Rock participate in a Joint Airport Zoning Board.
The Board’s primary purpose is for the political subdivisions affected by the Airport Hazard Zone (Travis and Bastrop Counties and the cities of Round Rock, Pflugerville, Austin, Manor, and Elgin) to agree on and adopt a common set of zoning regulations to ensure that future development does not present a safety hazard to aircraft. Potential hazards include structure height, land uses that attract birds or create electrical interference with navigation signals, etc. The proposed Airport Hazard Zone encompasses a significant part of south-central Round Rock, but the airport is far enough away that it would have only a minimal impact on development.
After the Board adopts a common set of zoning regulations, the City may adopt them into its existing ordinances, and the airport safety issues would then be addressed as part of the City’s standard development review processes through Planning & Development Services, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Once the surrounding jurisdictions have adopted these zoning regulations into their ordinances, the Board need only meet if there are major changes, such as a larger-than-expected runway expansion.
Recommended Action
Staff recommends appointing Brad Wiseman and David Pavliska