Jasper City Attorney Mark RainesJASPER, Tenn. — Following the lead of the Marion County Commission and other nearby municipalities, the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen has taken the first step in applying new height restrictions around the county airport.
At its February meeting, the board voted unanimously on first reading to approve a new zoning ordinance that would limit the height of objects around the Marion County Airport at Brown Field.
Jasper’s planning commission reviewed the ordinance recently and recommended approval by the board since tall structures or other objects might interfere with landing zones around the airport.
“Basically, [the ordinance] will limit the height of advertising signs, communications towers, and buildings that are within the airport traffic area,” City Attorney Mark Raines said.
In general, the ordinance limits the height of those objects to 150 feet in a cone-shaped air traffic zone.
“The closer you get to the airport, the greater the restrictions,” Raines said.
The issue first came up last year during the construction of a Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store at the Shellmound Business Park near Interstate 24’s exit 158. Designers of the truck stop wanted to construct a sign that was about 170 feet tall.
“The [Federal Aviation Administration] stepped in and made them lower it down to 150 [feet],” Raines said. “That was even before we had these height restrictions brought up. The FAA was concerned about that.”
He said the ordinance allows Jasper to “get a little bit ahead of the ballgame” if an industry is looking to relocate within the height restriction zone.
“Anyone within this airport traffic area that is a concern, they [the FAA] are asking those municipalities to approve an ordinance that sets limits on the height of signs and buildings so that it doesn’t interfere with the operations of the airport,” Raines said.
At the board’s next regular meeting on March 9, a public hearing will be held on the matter prior to a second and final reading and vote on the ordinance.
Alderman Paul “Mac” Bumpus said it’s important to note that if any residents or business owners disagree with the new restrictions, those problems won’t likely be addressed at the city level.
“They won’t be dealing with us,” he said. “They’ll be dealing with the FAA.”
Similar to the sign height situation at Love’s, Raines said if there is a legitimate concern, the FAA would be the entity making a ruling on the matter.
“It doesn’t pay to fight the federal government,” he said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.