A.    The airport (AP) district is intended to recognize and protect those areas devoted to public use aviation, and which are designated on the comprehensive plan. It is also intended to provide areas for those activities supporting or dependent upon aircraft or air transportation when such activities benefit from a location within or immediately adjacent to primary flight operations and passenger or cargo service facilities.

B.    The purpose of the airport safety overlay zones (ASO) as set forth in Section 17.40.030 is to recognize and protect the airspace around state and federal system airports from airspace obstructions and hazards and incompatible land uses and to protect public health, safety and general welfare within the ASO zone. (Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part))

Definitions applicable to this chapter are those found in Chapter 17.04, particularly in Section 17.04.050. (Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part))

A.    In order to carry out the provisions of this chapter, airport safety overlay zones are established which include all of the land lying beneath the approach surfaces, transitional surfaces, horizontal surfaces and conical surfaces as they apply to the Othello Municipal Airport. The overlay zones are shown on the Adams County zone map as established by the Washington State Department of Transportation. The map is on file with the building and planning department. An area located in more than one zone is considered to be only in the zone with the more restrictive height limitation. The various zones are defined as follows:

1.    Utility Runway Visual Approach Zone. The inner edge of this approach zone coincides with the width of the primary surface and is two hundred fifty feet wide for Runway No. 07/25. The approach zone expands uniformly to the width of one thousand two hundred fifty feet at a horizontal distance of five thousand feet from the primary surface. Its centerline is the continuation of the centerline of the runway.

2.    Transitional Zone. Transitional zones are the areas beneath the transitional surfaces.

3.    Horizontal Zone. Horizontal zones are established by swinging arcs of five thousand feet radii from the center of each end of the primary surface of each runway and connecting the adjacent arcs by drawing lines tangent to those arcs. Horizontal zones do not include approach and transitional zones.

4.    Conical Zone. Conical zones are established as the area commencing at the periphery of the horizontal zones and extending outward and upward at 20:1 therefrom for a horizontal distance of four thousand feet.

B.    Airport Zone Height Limitations. No structure shall be erected, altered, or maintained and no tree shall be allowed to grow in any zone, as defined in this chapter, to a height in excess of the applicable height limit established for that zone. The applicable height limitations for each of the zones are established as follows:

1.    Utility Runway Visual Approach Zone. Slopes twenty feet outward for each foot upward (20:1) beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending to a horizontal distance of five thousand feet along the extended runway centerline.

2.    Transitional Zones. Slopes seven feet outward for each foot upward (7:1) beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and the approach surface, and extending to a height of one hundred fifty feet above the airport elevation.

3.    Horizontal Zone. One hundred fifty feet above the airport elevation or at a height of one thousand two hundred ninety-five feet above mean sea level.

4.    Conical Zone. Slopes twenty feet outward for each foot upward (20:1) for four thousand feet beginning at the periphery of the horizontal zone and at one hundred fifty feet above the airport elevation and extending to a height of three hundred fifty feet above the airport elevation.

C.    Use Restrictions. No use may be made of land or water within any zone so as to:

1.    Create electrical interference with the navigational signals or radio communications between the airport and aircraft.

2.    Make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airport lights and others.

3.    Result in glare in the eyes of pilots using the airport.

4.    Create bird strike hazards.

5.    Otherwise endanger or interfere with the landing, takeoff, or maneuvering of aircraft intending to use the airport. (Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part))

New lots and structures and additions to structures subject to this chapter shall comply with the applicable dimensional standards as set forth in Tables 17.40.040-1 and 17.40.040-2 subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.76. Site plan review is required for all new developments and modifications to existing permitted development unless expressly exempted by this title.

1. No building or structure shall be hereafter erected, enlarged, or structurally altered to exceed thirty-five feet in height, unless a conditional use permit is granted.

2. Special Provisions. When an airport district abuts a residential district, there shall be a minimum of five hundred feet from the end of any runway and the residential district.

(Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

The uses set out in Table 17.40.040-1 are examples of uses allowable in this zone district. The appropriate review authority is mandatory.

• “P”—Uses allowed subject to approval of applicable permits.

• “R/A”—Uses permitted upon review and approval as set forth in Chapter 17.69.

• “C”—Conditional uses which may be permitted subject to the approval of a conditional use permit as set forth in Section 17.85.030.

• “X”—Or uses not listed are specifically prohibited.

Where there are special use standards or restrictions for a listed use, the applicable code section(s) in Chapter 17.69, Special Uses and Standards, or other applicable chapter is noted in the “Special Standards” column.

(Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

Code reviser’s note: Ordinance O-02-25 added this section as 17.40.040. It has been editorially renumbered to prevent duplication of numbering.