Bradley County won’t limit heights near new airport

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Opponents of a city airport to be built in the Tasso community won a zoning victory Monday night.

After hearing residents from the area, Bradley County commissioners voted 8-4, with two absent, not to impose height restrictions for structures in the area. Residents stood and applauded.

The commission vote followed a public hearing in which several people questioned the proposed height zoning and the need for the airport.

Erin Fuller, a vocal opponent of the airport, asked several questions, including how many homes will be affected.

“You guys need to know how many homes you are going to take our property rights away from,” Ms. Fuller said.

She said it’s unfair to put county residents who don’t pay city taxes under restrictions of the city’s Municipal Airport Authority.

Other opponents spoke of provisions in the defeated zoning ordinance that would have dealt with glare and bird strikes. Does that mean no metal roofs on farmhouses? they asked. Does that mean landowners can’t plant corn, which attracts birds?

Commissioner Ben Atchley sought to delay the vote until questions could be answered.

Mr. Atchley said state law allows the airport authority to seek the same restrictions from the Cleveland City Council if the County Commission does not act.

Commissioner Jim Smith spoke against delay.

“Lets go ahead and vote this up or down,” he urged.

And the audience applauded when Commissioner Howard Thompson said, “I don’t care what the airport authority says. We need to fight this thing to the end.”

Authority Chairwoman Lynn DeVault told commissioners the rezoning was meant to protect the airspace where airplanes will be landing and taking off. It would ensure no tall structures such as cell towers would be placed next to the airport, she said, but would not apply to existing structures or to anything that rose less than 50 feet from the ground.