Fresno County Municipal Code Ch. 19.12 Airports—specific Plan

The procedure for preparing and adopting additions to or amendments of all or any portion of the specific plan of airports and operating zones (also known as airport hazard areas) shall conform to the provisions of Section 50485 through and including Section 50485.14 of the Government Code of the state, the planning law of the state, and acts amendatory thereto.

(Prior code, § 722)

Each item of the specific plan of airports and operating zones adopted or added shall be described by a descriptive title sufficient to identify subject and location and shall contain a map. The map shall have the appropriate notations shown thereon, including a plot plan of the airport showing the location, direction and dimensions of all runways, and other formally adopted features of the physical ground plan.

(Prior code, § 722.1)

For the purpose of this chapter, all of the land lying within the vicinity of an airport is divided into the following zones:

"IA"—Instrument Approach Zone;

"NIA"—Noninstrument Approach Zone;

"PS"—Primary Surface Zone;

"T"—Transition Zone;

"H"—Horizontal Zone;

"C"—Conical Zone;

"ARP"—Airport Reference Point.

(Prior code, § 722.1A)

A. "Airport reference point" means the point established as the approximate geographic center of the airport landing area and shall be designated on the plan.

B. The "approach zone" is a trapezoidal area which extends outward and upward in a graduated width and height from each end of a primary surface zone and may include airport property and private property. The approach zone shall be designated as either an instrument approach zone or noninstrument approach zone.

C. "Conical zone" means a surface extending from the periphery of the horizontal zone outward and upward at a slope of twenty to one for a variable horizontal distance and to a variable elevation depending upon the length of the runway.

D. "Horizontal zone" means a circular plane one hundred fifty feet above the established airport elevation with a radius measured from the airport reference point.

E. "Primary surface zone" means a horizontal surface, longitudinally centered on a runway and extending in length two hundred feet beyond each end of the runway. The elevation of any point on the longitudinal profile of a primary surface shall coincide with the elevation of the centerline of the runway and the extension thereof.

F. "Transition zone" means an area lying adjacent to and on each side of the primary surface zone and the approach zone, extending outward and upward and may include airport property and private property.

(Prior code, § 722.1B)

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter it is unlawful for any person to erect, alter, allow to grow, or maintain in any zone created by this chapter any structure or tree to a height in excess of the height limit shown on the adopted specific plan. The datum plane for measurement of such heights shall be the elevation based on the U.S.G.S. datum of the nearest point on the centerline of the nearest runway.

B. The height limit for each type of zone shall be as set forth in Part 77 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration, effective May 2, 1968, and the Federal Aviation Agency Advisory circular AC NO: l50/5300.4, effective May 9, 1967. These regulations are adopted by reference except as herein otherwise provided and are applicable to and shall govern the height of structures and trees in the vicinity of an airport located within the unincorporated area of the county.

C. Where an area is covered by more than one height limitation, the more restrictive limitations shall prevail.

(Prior code, § 722.2)

An airport may be included within the specific plan of airports by ordinance amending the specific plan in the manner prescribed by law and such ordinance amending the specific plan shall constitute an amendment of this chapter. The amendment shall contain, as a part thereof, a map of the airport designating thereon the various airport zones made the subject of such amendment, which map shall be the detailed map required by Section 19.12.020.

(Prior code, § 722.3)

Buildings, structures, utilities or trees which exist within any zone on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter or on the effective date of any specific plan of airports subsequently adopted under the provisions of this chapter, are nonconforming, and may continue with reasonable maintenance but may not be enlarged or replaced except as provided in Section 19.04.030.

(Prior code, § 722.4)

The maps of specific plans of airports and amendments adopted under this chapter shall not be included in this ordinance code. The map for each specific plan shall be recorded in the office of the county clerk-recorder in a book entitled "Record of Specific Plans of Airports."

(Prior code, § 722.5)

All maps, heretofore designated as parts of the "official plan of airports," are hereafter a part of the specific plan of airports and shall hereafter continue in effect and shall be subject to all the provisions of this title. Any reference to the "official plan of airports" in any ordinance of Fresno County, heretofore adopted, shall mean the specific plan of airports.

(Prior code, § 722.6)

It shall be the duty of the director of resources and development to administer and enforce the regulations prescribed herein. Applications for permits and variances shall a made to the planning agency upon a form furnished by the resources and development department.

(Ord. 0-81-002, § 47; prior code, § 722.7)