this strategy does not consider military compatibility and protecting the
Base and its economic benefit in the region.
The CEDS also identified important regional partners and resources for
CARPDC, including members of the Chamber of Commerce and economic
development organizations, state and federal agencies, regional utility
companies, and regional industries. However, Maxwell AFB was not
included as an economic partner or resource for the region, despite its
economic impact in the region.
The South Central Alabama Development Commission (SCADC) is the
regional planning and development commission for south central Alabama,
covering six counties including Montgomery County. According to SCADC’s
updated CEDS, the vision is to increase the economic diversity and quality of
life in the region. The SCADC’s CEDS identified six broad goals that their
strategies and actions are based on, including:
Increased economic development and opportunity, and
Improved transportation access and infrastructure.
The SCADC’s CEDS also indicated that at least 500 major companies have
located or expanded within the region over the past 15 years, and there are
approximately 60 major industrial parks within the region, several of them at
capacity. While this is a good problem to have, the uncoordinated siting of
new industrial parks could potentially lead to vertical obstructions and
encroachment on aviation activities in the region. The SCADC does not
incorporate military compatibility goals into the CEDS.
Findings
The CEDS for both organizations, CARPDC and SCADC, do not include
military compatibility goals.
The economic development organizations in the region recognize the
importance of Maxwell AFB as an economic anchor in the community;
June 2017
however, there are no coordination policies established with the Base
on economic development matters.
The City’s AHA provides adequate guidance for imaginary surfaces and
related height limitations for proposed structures immediately
surrounding the airfield within two miles.
ISSUE
VO‐5
Height Regulations Do Not Consider Imaginary Surfaces
Current Montgomery and Prattville height regulations do not
consider the Federal Aviation Administration’s height guidance
relative to imaginary surfaces.
The primary concern with this issue is the cities of Montgomery and
Prattville height regulations for certain zoning districts located within the
imaginary surfaces of the Maxwell AFB airfield do not necessarily consider
the recommended slope of FAA imaginary surface guidance. This concerns
the military due to the cities potentially allowing unnecessary vertical
obstructions through approving certain development in locations that are
critical for safe maneuvering of aircraft.
As defined above there are three imaginary surfaces that have slope
guidance relative to height limitations, they are the approach‐departure
clearance surface, which has a 50 foot horizontal to one vertical foot slope
up to 500 feet for built structures; the conical surface, which has a 20 foot
horizontal to one vertical foot slope; and the transitional surface, which has
a 7 foot horizontal to one vertical foot slope from the runway centerline.
The cities of Montgomery and Prattville are within the majority of the
imaginary surfaces. The City of Prattville is not impacted by the conical
surface which has the 20:1 slope. However, the City of Montgomery is
impacted by all the imaginary surfaces, except the primary surface. The
other imaginary surfaces have straightforward recommended height
Background Report
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