recommended height limitations for these areas. There is one tower in a
critical area, the approach‐departure clearance surface inside the
FAA Part 77 Ring of 200 feet. This could represent a significant
incompatibility. The tower furthest northwest located in Prattville exceeds
the imaginary surfaces recommended guidance. Both of these footprints
are shown to demonstrate that structures may be non‐compliant with both
the footprints or with either footprint. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) requires all communication towers and their related
structures, such as antennas, that are 200 feet in height or taller, or that are
located near an airport runway to be registered with the FCC. A structure
that exceeds 200 feet is also supposed to coordinate with the FAA to receive
a FAA obstruction evaluation (OE). If uncoordinated with the FAA, then the
military and other stakeholders can encourage FAA to evaluate the structure
and designate it an OE.
site has an elevation of 400 feet, then a communication tower or antenna
that is cited within a surface with a 500 foot limit would create an
obstruction to navigable airspace if it exceeded 271 feet in height.
Findings
There are six existing towers that exceed imaginary surface and
FAA Part 77 guidance relative to obstructions of navigable airspace.
The City of Montgomery’s AHA only limits heights of structures
including telecommunications towers and antenna within the
two‐mile area around the airfield; however, imaginary surfaces extend
outward from the airfield in all directions upwards of 9.5 miles. The
City of Montgomery Zoning Ordinance does not incorporate imaginary
surface or FAA Part 77 guidance, which does not address the
remaining seven to 7.5 miles around the airfield.
Compatibility Assessment According to the City of Montgomery’s zoning ordinance, Radio and
communication towers are among the structures that are excluded from
regulation in their zoning ordinance, with the exception of areas associated
with the AHA. All structures within the AHA, including the standard
exclusions and trees, are restricted by the height limitations prescribed by
the individual zoning district within the two‐mile AHA. The City of Montgomery’s AHA does not consider site elevation,
distance from the airfield, and slopes when establishing restrictions
for h