The city’s zoning district that comprises the waterfront recreation district is
WR waterfront recreation on the figure. The city’s zoning districts that
comprise the agriculture category are AGR‐1 Agricultural Area (Residential
Agriculture) and AGR‐2 Agricultural Area (General Agriculture). Additionally,
the FH flood hazard district, INST institutional district, and U utility district all
compose their respective zoning districts.
The assessment was based on and limited to available data; therefore, only
the City of Montgomery was assessed as it was the only jurisdiction that
provided zoning data. Due to the location of portions of the SRs over the
communities of Millbrook, Coosada, as well as portions of the City of
Prattville and Montgomery County, there is a potential for noise sensitive
uses to be developed under these military routes. This could potentially
create incompatible development in these areas. Ultimately, if noise
sensitive land uses are located in this noise area, then an increase in noise
complaints could occur. While unlikely, this could result in changes to
military training operations to accommodate for the noise sensitive land
uses. Constant changes to military training operational areas could have a
detrimental effect on the military and its ability to sustain effective military
preparedness. This could result in lost hours and training opportunities for
the military in this geography and ultimately, it could mean lost economic
impact and opportunity for the local communities.
Compatibility Assessment
There are no recommended DOD guidelines for land uses under SRs;
however, due to the authorized low‐level aircraft activities that can occur in
these areas, considerations of the potential impacts on land uses under the
SRs should be evaluated during the land use planning process prior to
decision‐making actions including approvals of certain land uses in these
areas.
Though all military services recognize the importance of compatible land use
with noise, the Air Force has published specific land use compatibility
guidelines for aircraft noise based on dBs noise measurement in Air Force
Instruction (AFI) 32‐7063. The Air Force has not modeled noise contours for
operations that occur in the SR airspace as this airspace is not where the
significant impact is experienced, rather the most impact is experienced at
arriving and departing locations, which is typically closest to the ground level
and nearest to other types of land uses that may be sensitive to loud noise.
Because the intent of the JLUS is to promote land use compatibility and
because the recommendations are provided for local governments, the land
use compatibility assessment for aircraft noise in SR airspace is based on
best practice using the recommended land uses for aircraft noise. Land use
compatibility along with notes defining recommended noise level reductions
(NLRs) for specific land uses are provided in Table 5.18‐1.
Additionally, all the categories that include each individual zoning district,
illustrated on Figure 5.18‐2, are conditionally compatible under the SRs
operational area because the city permits noise sensitive land uses such as
residential homes, healthcare facilities, childcare and child development
land uses in the individual zoning districts. The only categories and zoning
districts that are compatible without condition are industrial and utility, as
these zoning districts do not permit uses that are considered noise sensitive
land uses.
Findings
There are no local tools that address this issue.
June 2017
Background Report
Page 5‐73