Regional Affairs

Maryland airport faces land-use challenge

Montgomery County officials in Maryland are considering a zoning amendment that AOPA believes could create dangers for both for pilots in the air and residents on the ground. At issue is a property adjacent to Montgomery County Airpark that, under the proposal, would be turned into a planned retirement community zone. In a letter to the county, AOPA pointed out that such a move could put the county revenue authority in non-compliance with FAA grant assurances. AOPA asked the county to carefully consider the terms and not approve the zoning change without specific provisions to protect the airpark. "We feel strongly that avoiding the risk now rather than having to mitigate it later is good public policy," wrote Bill Dunn, AOPA vice president of airports. "We hope you will agree." Download the letter.

July 21, 2006