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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Fairchild land-use study almost done

Ryan Lancaster rklancaster1@yahoo.com

A study to sort out the effects of growth around Fairchild Air Force Base is one step closer to conclusion after a second public forum was held in Airway Heights Monday.

The joint land-use study calls for tougher measures to prevent noise complaints and continued restrictions on construction within the flight path for the base.

Spokane County initiated the study after applying for and receiving a $244,000 Department of Defense grant in October 2007. Beyond the county’s involvement, the steering committee includes representatives of Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Spokane International Airport and the Kalispel and Spokane tribes among others.

Joint land-use study project planner Jim Falk told forum attendees the Department of Defense is “very concerned” about land uses encroaching into military installations and considers them to be a serious threat to national security.

As urban developments continue to advance on military installations nationwide, Falk said a matching rise in nuisance complaints filed against the bases can lead to restrictions on training operations. The study aims to stop this occurring at Fairchild by providing local governments with a set of proposals that will guide planning and zoning policies.

Rick Rust is a senior project manager with land-use consulting company Matrix Design Group of Sacramento, Calif., which was hired to oversee the project. He emphasized the importance of looking ahead, noting that Fairchild is one of a few military locations currently being considered to house the “next generation of tanker aircraft,” an opportunity that brings the possibility of higher noise levels with the heavier aircraft.

“The idea is that for all these bases you’re not only wanting to protect their ability to do what they currently do but also to have the flexibility to expand into different aircraft if that is needed so they can maintain this economic engine for the community,” said Rust.

According to the study, Fairchild had a total economic impact to the Spokane area of more than $420 million in the 2007 financial year.

The study has established four Military Influence Areas where military operations could impact local communities or where local activities might hamper the military’s mission. These areas will be used to define where and how proposed actions will be applied and are divided into the areas of regional jurisdiction, interagency coordination, noise impact and land use.

Rust outlined some of the study’s recommendations, highlighting the need to restrain residential development under flight approach areas in order to offset noise complaints and limit the potential for accidents.

Study proposals include changes to zoning expansion and intensity limits in certain areas, noise compliance disclosures on real estate deeds and sound and light reduction specifications for both new and existing structures.

“This is not written in stone, there is no regulatory side to this,” said Rust emphasizing the strategies will only be moved forward by the various stakeholders themselves. “If there’s something in here that says the city of Airway Heights should change a zoning code, that requires them to hold a public hearing, to publish the changes, to go through all those steps they would normally do to make this happen.”

Falk said after a year and a half the study is near completion and will likely be finalized after a policy committee meeting on Sept. 17.