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4. PLAN DISCUSSION <br /> A. IMMEDIATE AIRPORT PROTECTION <br /> A.1 Establish an Airport Influence Area in accordance with Arizona statute. <br /> Identify and apply compatible land uses within that area which will allow the <br /> best opportunity for the continued development and operation of Prescott <br /> Municipal (Ernest A. Love) airport. <br /> Establishing an official airport influence area is the primary and most effective method of airport <br /> protection. Based on Part 77 and other FAA regulations, the 2009 Airport Master Plan <br /> recommends an airport influence area as depicted in Figure 1 based on the length and <br /> activity level of each of the 6 runways. This is well within the FAA practice of monitoring all <br /> flights within a 5-mile radius of an airport for safety reasons. Once adopted by Prescott City <br /> Council and recorded with the County Recorder, the airport influence area would provide, <br /> through the title report, notice of overflights and aircraft noise to land buyers. <br /> The second option available for ensuring airport protection is the use of avigation easements, <br /> which are a more rigorous form of notice that run with the dedicating property, and typically <br /> grant "Navigable Airspace" above the dedicating property. Gaining avigation easements within <br /> the recommended airport influence area will only occur if required by the applicable ASAP <br /> jurisdiction. The responsibility for protecting the airport through avigation easements and from <br /> inappropriate land uses must be shared by all applicable jurisdictions for the Plan to be <br /> effective. There is a strong sense of multi-jurisdictional support for the airport and what it <br /> provides the region. To strengthen implementation of ASAP policies, Yavapai County and Town <br /> of Prescott Valley and City of Prescott should adopt the Plan as their own. Applicable <br /> jurisdictions should be provided adequate comment opportunity on proposed General Plan <br /> amendments, annexation, preliminary and final plats, rezonings, and special or conditional uses <br /> proposed within the bounds of ASAP. <br /> Discussions among local government officials reveal a genuine interest for increasing regional <br /> cooperation on land use and development within ASAP. This support may include regional cost <br /> and revenue sharing so that mutual benefits and responsibilities can result. Such a mechanism <br /> would be groundbreaking for the region, and would reduce divisive competition between <br /> municipalities for new commercial development. What form this may take will require an open <br /> dialog and much research. Sales tax revenue sharing between municipalities tied to level of <br /> related public infrastructure expenditures may be one approach. What role, if any, the Town of <br /> Chino Valley might have given its recent agreement not to annex into the ASAP area would <br /> need to be fleshed out. This proposal could be crafted to raise needed capital improvement <br /> dollars for the planned improvements to the airport itself. <br /> Controlling the type and placement of specific land uses in proximity to the airport is an <br /> essential component of long-term protection of the airport. Compatible land uses close <br /> to the airport include industrial, commercial, ranching and open space. Concentrations <br /> of residential development near the airport are not desirable, although multi-family <br /> residential may be reasonable outside the approach and departure corridors where air <br /> traffic patterns are lighter. The following discussion addresses land-use issues within <br /> ASAP. <br /> 14 <br />