Issues Assessment
ISSUE
SA‐1
Incompatible Uses in Clear Zones
Any development that occurs within the Clear Zone (CZ),
including railroad, and utility and roadway infrastructure, is
incompatible per Air Force AICUZ recommended guidelines.
There are a mix of land uses within the CZs that include single‐family
residential dwellings and commercial and industrial facilities. The majority
of these existing land uses are located in the southern portion of the
southern CZ, and according to the DOD AICUZ recommended guidelines are
considered incompatible within this operational area. Due to the CZ having
a high accident potential risk associated with it because of its location
nearest the runway and the operations conducted in this area (the final
approach and departure operations), any use other than open space or
agricultural uses are considered incompatible within a CZ. Even agricultural
uses can be considered incompatible if there is any kind of earth movement
or farming activity ongoing in this area. Thus, the commercial uses along
Birmingham Highway South those are located within the CZ area also
incompatible.
Incompatible uses within the southern CZ are illustrated on Figure 5.21‐1.
They are:
Residential uses, 19.90 acres;
Services uses, 115.82 acres;
Transportation, communication, and utilities uses, 2.99 acres; and
Wholesale retail and trade, 0.42 acres.
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While these uses are south of the railroad and comprise the southernmost
portion of the CZ, they are considered incompatible by the DOD AICUZ
recommended guidelines. DOD recommends this area remain free and clear
of any kind of development due to the high risk associated with the CZ.
Land uses of any kind that encourage high densities for residential uses and
high intensities for non‐residential uses can potentially create unnecessary
safety risks to both the general public and the aircraft pilot should an aircraft
mishap occur in this area. This explanation would also be true for the zoning
in this area.
Figure 5.21‐2 illustrates the zoning within Maxwell AFB airfield safety zones.
The majority of the incompatible zoning is located within the southern CZ;
however, the northern CZ of main runway contains incompatible zoning for
this operational area also. The following list identifies the zoning districts
and the amount of acres that are located within the northern CZ.
FH – Flood Hazard Area, 71.92 acres;
INST – Institutional Area, 44.10 acres;
M‐3 – General Industry, 20.57 acres; and
R‐50 – Single Family Residential, 58.54 acres.
Figure 5.21‐2 shows there are five zoning districts found within the southern
CZ that are considered incompatible. The zoning districts and their
associated acreages are as follows:
INST – Institutional Area, 64.23 acres;
M‐1 – Light Industry, 11.44 acres;
M‐3 – General Industry, 72.70 acres;
R‐60‐s – Single Family Residential, 7.02 acres; and
R‐75‐s – Single Family Residential, 5.63 acres.
Background Report
June 2017