Airport Compatible Land Use
Marlene L. Gafrick, Director
City of Houston Planning & Development Department
Eric Potts, Deputy Director of Planning, Design & Construction
City of Houston, Houston Airport System
AIRPORT COMPATIBLE LAND USE STUDY
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FAA LETTER
 Federal airport development grant agreements require
City to adopt measures to ensure land development
compatible with airport operations.
 Protect FAA’s investment of $667 million since 1983.
 Federal assistance for future airport development and
buy-outs may be limited without controls.
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HOUSTON AIRPORT SYSTEM’S IMPACT
 The three combined assets of Bush Intercontinental,
Hobby and Ellington contribute more than $24 billion
to Houston’s economy annually.
 More than 387,000 metric tons of air cargo and 52
million passengers were served by the Houston Airport
System in 2007.
 4th-largest multi-airport system in the U.S. and the
6th-largest in the world.
 $3.6 billion invested through CIP since 1986 and $2.3
billion in projects planned through CIP.
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LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
 Amended Chapter 211 and 241 of the Local Government
Code in 2007 - Clarified no zoning referendum needed to
adopt airport land use regulations.
 Reviewed measures adopted by other airports.
 Same statute (in place more than 50 years) that allows
the City to enact height hazard restrictions allows us to
adopt compatible land use restrictions.
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IAH BUSH GROWTH 1955-2006
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LAND USE CONCERNS IN AIRPORT PROXIMITY
 At IAH Bush, new residential development
encroaches on key runway noise zones.
 Recent Cases:
• Greens Glen. This proposed subdivision will be
located on centerline of a future runway, partly within
the runway protection zone and mostly within the
runway’s future DNL (noise) 65 contour and Tier 1.
• Northport Park – This proposed subdivision will be
partially located in Tier 2.
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CREATION OF 3 TIERS
Tier 1 – Primarily based on future noise contours,
including 65 DNL extended to property line boundaries
Tier 2 – Followed natural boundaries (i.e. streets,
bayous, etc.)
Tier 3 – Predefined by state law (3 x 5 mile box)
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Airport Compatible Land Use Planning Tiers
DRAFT 6/10/08
IAH – George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Legend
Tier 1
Tier 2
Northport Park
Tier 3
Greens Glen
Airport
Property
Beltway 8
NOTE: All acreage figures
are net airport property and
net each Tier
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Airport Compatible Land Use Planning Tiers
DRAFT 6/10/08
HOU – William P. Hobby Airport
Legend
Pasadena Fwy
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Airport
Property
Sam Houston Tollway
NOTE: All acreage figures
are net airport property and
net each Tier
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Airport Compatible Land Use Planning Tiers
DRAFT 6/10/08
EFD - Ellington Field
Legend
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Airport
Property
NOTE: All acreage figures
are net airport property and
net each Tier
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DRAFT – 4/18/08
Land Use Compatibility Matrix
Land Uses
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONAL
YES*
NO
NO
YES*
CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONAL
YES*
NO
CONDITIONAL
YES*
Residential Dwellings (Single Family or Multi-Family)
A: Enlargement, replacement or substantial renovation
B: New Mobile home dwellings
C: New construction in existing developed residential areas
D: New construction in undeveloped or non-residential areas
Noise-Sensitive Public Assembly Uses (Schools, Places of Worship, Movie Theaters, Amphitheaters)
A: Enlargement of existing uses
NO
CONDITIONAL
YES*
B: New construction
NO
CONDITIONAL
YES*
A: Enlargement of existing uses
NO
NO
YES*
B: New construction
NO
NO
YES*
A: Enlargement of existing uses
CONDITIONAL
CONDITIONAL
YES*
B: New construction
CONDITIONAL
C0NDITIONAL
YES*
Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Day Care Centers
Lodging
Commercial and Employment Uses (Retail, Restaurants, Offices, Warehouses, Industrial Uses)
A: Enlargement of existing uses
YES*
YES*
YES*
B: New construction
YES*
YES*
YES*
NO
YES*
Landfills, Major Water Bodies or other uses attractive for birds in large concentrations
A: Enlargement of existing uses or new construction
NO
Legend:
Compatible
* with notice
Compatible Only With Soundproofing Measures
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Not Compatible
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SOUNDPROOFING (NOISE ATTENUATION) MEASURES
MAY INCLUDE:
Use of particular building materials:
 Windows with specified glazing or double-lite
construction
 Heavier or solid-core doors with full seals and weather
stripping
 Insulation – specific requirements for attic, ceiling and
interior wall insulation
 Noise and vibration controls in residential HVAC
systems
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PROCESS
June
• Council establishes Airport Commission (Houston Planning
Commission)
June/July
• Council District community meetings
July/August
• Airport Commission public hearings
August/September
• Council Committee on Transportation, Infrastructure and
Aviation
September/October
• Hearing by the full Council
•
•
Ordinance adopted by Council
Implementation
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For more information
www.Fly2Houston.com
281-233-1366
Airport.Landuse.Regulations@CityOfHouston.Net
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