This Part is enacted to insure and promote the health, safety and welfare of the general public and property in and about the Reading Regional Airport, to protect the users, facilities and services of the airport, to prevent hazardous conditions to the users, facilities or services of the airport and to eliminate, remove, mitigate, mark or light any existing hazard which cannot be completely abated.

The provisions of this Part shall apply to all lands within the City that are shown on the official Airport Approach Zoning Map as being located within the boundaries of any airport zone.

Airport zones shall be overlays to the underlying zoning districts as shown on the Official Zoning Map. If there is any conflict between the provisions or requirements of this Part and any other zoning provision, the more restrictive provision shall apply.

The airport zones as shown on the official Airport Approach Zoning Map are:

   A.   Conical zone.

   B.   Horizontal zone.

   C.   Precision instrument runway approach zone.

   D.   Runway larger than utility visual approach zone.

   E.   Runway larger than utility with a visibility minimum greater than three-quarters of a mile nonprecision instrument approach zone.

   F.   Transitional zone.

   G.   Utility runway–visual approach zone.

   A.   No building, structure or portion thereof or any other obstruction shall be erected, altered or maintained in excess of the height limitations as established hereinafter for each zone.

   B.   The height limitations for each zone are as follows:

      (1)   Conical Zone. One hundred fifty feet above the airport elevation at the intersection with the Horizontal Zone and extending thereafter 20 feet horizontal for each foot of vertical elevation extending to a height of 350 feet above the airport elevation.

      (2)   Horizontal Zone. One hundred fifty feet above the airport elevation.

      (3)   Precision Instrument Runway Approach Zone. Beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending 50 feet horizontal for each one foot vertical for a distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center line and thereafter 40 feet horizontal for each foot vertical to a horizontal distance of 40,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

      (4)   Runway Larger Than Utility Visual Approach Zone. Beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending 20 feet horizontally for each foot vertically to a distance of 5,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

      (5)   Runway larger than utility with a visibility minimum greater than three-quarters of a mile Nonprecision Instrument Approach Zone. Beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending 50 feet horizontally for each one foot vertical extending to a horizontal distance of 10,000 feet along the extended runway center line and thereafter 40 feet horizontal for each one foot vertical to an additional horizontal distance of 40,000 feet along the extended runway center line.

      (6)   Transitional Zone. Beginning at the sides of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and the approach surface extending seven feet horizontal for each foot vertical and extending to a height of 100 feet above the airport elevation and extending to the intersection with the conical surface.

      (7)   Utility Runway Visual Approach Zone. Beginning at the end of and at the same elevation as the primary surface and extending 20 feet horizontal for each foot vertical a distance of 5,000 along the extended runway center line.

   C.   Where the precision instrument runway approach zone projects beyond the conical zone, the height: limit shall begin at the side of and at the same elevation as the approach surface extending seven feet horizontal for each foot vertical extending a distance of 5,000 feet horizontal measured at 90° angles to the extended runway center line.

Nothing in this Part shall be construed as to prohibit the construction or maintenance of any building, structure or part thereof or obstruction at a maximum height of 35 feet.

No use may be made of land, buildings, structures, objects or water within any district that:

   A.   Creates electrical interference with navigational signals or radio communication between the airport and aircraft.

   B.   Makes it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airport lights and others.

   C.   Results in glare to pilots using the airport.

   D.   Impairs visibility in the vicinity of the airport.

   E.   Creates bird strike hazards.

   F.   Endangers or interfere with the landing and taking off or maneuvering of aircraft.

Nothing in this Part shall be construed to require the removal, alteration or change of existing buildings, structures or parts thereof or obstruction not conforming to the regulations as herein set forth. In the event any building, structure or part thereof or obstruction shall violate and/ or exceed the limitations as heretofore set forth and is deemed to be a nonconforming use, the owner or lessee thereof shall permit the installation, operation and maintenance thereon of any marker or light that shall be deemed necessary by the airport authority to indicate to the operators of aircraft in the vicinity of the presence of such building, structure, part thereof or obstruction.

   A.   No land, building, structure, part thereof, or obstruction shall be established or changed in any of the airport zones unless a permit therefor has been obtained from the Zoning Administrator.

   B.   Within the horizontal and conical zones, a permit shall not be required for any building, structure, part thereof or obstruction less than 75 feet in height, provided that such building, structure, part thereof or obstruction does not exceed the height limitations as prescribed hereinbefore.

   C.   Within the approach zones, and at a horizontal distance not less than 4,200 feet from each end of a runway, a permit shall not be required for any building, structure, part thereof or obstruction less than 75 feet in height, provided that such building, structure, part thereof or obstruction does not exceed the height limitations as prescribed hereinbefore.

   D.   Within the transition zones beyond the perimeter of the horizontal zone, a permit shall not be required for any building, structure, part thereof or obstruction less than 75 feet in height, provided that such building, structure, part thereof or obstruction does not exceed above the height limitations as prescribed hereinbefore.

No use, building, structure, part thereof or obstruction shall be permitted to be altered or changed to become nonconforming in height or more nonconforming in height.

Variances to the provisions of this Part may be granted by the Zoning Hearing Board. In addition to the requirements as established by this chapter and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq., the following shall also be considered and required:

   A.   The application shall be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Aviation for review. The application shall not be approved if either entity provides a written statement that the proposal would interfere with the operation of air navigation facilities and/or the safe efficient use of navigable air space.

   B.   Comments of the Airport Manager. A copy of the application shall be furnished to the Airport Manager for advice as to the aeronautical effects of the proposal. The Board is only required to consider comments received prior to the Board's last hearing on the matter. An unfavorable report by the Airport Manager or failure to respond shall not bind the Board, but may be a factor in its decision.