It's one of the biggest threats facing America's airports - residential encroachment. Now it is threatening Placerville Airport in Northern California, where developers are proposing to build a residential area less than 2,000 feet from the airport. "It places the health, welfare, and safety of the citizens both on the ground and in the air at risk," wrote John Collins, AOPA senior liaison of airports, in a letter to the city planning division. "Allowing noncompatible land uses such as residential development adjacent to vibrant airports is a root cause of the ultimate demise of the airport." AOPA has said the proposal is inconsistent with existing California guidelines and warned that such a move would generate pressure from local homeowners calling for restrictions on aircraft operations.
May 25, 2007