Petition for Writ of Certiorari — Cox v. City of Wichita Falls
Supreme Court brief2001
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No. o1-_BDIe62 JuL 0 9 2001
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IN THE
Supreme Court of the United States
OCTOBER TERM, 2001
CHESTER COX, JR.., et al.,
Petitioners,
V.
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, A Texas
Incorporated Municipality, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
et al.,
Respondents. |
PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF
APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
Steven Barshov
Attorney for Petitioners
Stadtmauer Bailkin LLP
850 Third Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10022
(212) 822-2247
SNL RNS 0 SO yr
congo
i
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW
1. Does a municipal zoning ordinance that is not
comprehensive and is not adopted in accordance with a
comprehensive plan violate the due process and equal protection
clauses of the United States Constitution?
2. Is the United States liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 if
United States military air installation personnel and a city
collaborate, under color of state law, to impose zoning on private
property that violates federally protected constitutional rights?
+
LIST OF PARTIES
The following are the parties to the proceedings before the Fifth
Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the parties to the proceedings
before the Supreme Court:
Petitioners: Chester Cox, Jr.; D.B. Clark; Pauline Clark; Steve
Murphy; Robin Murphy; Paul Brown; Agnes Brown; Eddie Long;
William Bradley; Dorothy Bradley; Melvin Masters; Glynn C.
Weeks; Madeline A. Weeks; Billie Wolfe; Robbie Wolfe; Edwin L.
Smith; Wanda Smith; Everett Davis; Herb Sleeper; Joanie Sleeper;
Kenneth Davis; Vona Davis; Roy L. Baker; Sammie J. Baker;
David Homyk; Marsha Homyk; Jo Ann Gibson; Burt Stewart;
Raymond M. Heinert; Elida Heinert; James Prentiss; Vinnie
Prentiss; Billy Davis; Sylvia Davis; Francis Raines; Joe Davis; J.A.
Hill; Joe Mitchell; Lois Mitchell; Dan Humphreys; Marilyn
Humphreys; Joe Wilson; Bobby Mannen; R.E. Marlow, Jr.; Susan
Woods; Larry Woods; Gad Garland; Kathleen Murphy; Truman J.
Stephens; Valine Stephens; Michael Owen; Emest Davis; Mary
Davis; and Larry Rutledge.
Respondents: City of Wichita Falls, Texas; United States of
America; United States Department of Defense; William H. Perry,
as Secretary of the Department of Defense; United States
Department of the Air force; Sheila Widnall, as Secretary of the
Department of the Air Force; Sheppard Air Force Base; and
General Michael Zettler, as Base Commander of Sheppard Air
Force Base.
re er
ili
TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUESTIONS PRESENTED FOR REVIEW ........... i
ge 8 a ee re ee il
REPRE CUTEUPIOEATD ons ccc ccccctscccacccess iv
RE ee ree l
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION .................. 2
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES,
REGULATIONS, AND ORDINANCE INVOLVED ..... 2
DEAREOTE CW REE CAGE 2... ccc ccscccncccccces 3
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT ............. 9
SINCE THE FIFTH CIRCUIT’S DECISION
CONFLICTS WITH THE RELEVANT DECISIONS
OF THIS COURT, THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT
OF APPEALS, AND VARIOUS STATE COURTS OF
LAST RESORT; AND SINCE IMPORTANT
FEDERAL QUESTIONS ARE PRESENTED THAT
HAVE NOT BEEN, BUT SHOULD BE, SETTLED BY
THIS COURT; THE PETITION FOR WRIT OF
CERTIORARI SHOULD BE GRANTED ............ 9
A. The Comprehensive Zoning Question .............. 9
iv
1. Conflict With Relevant
SO GE Fee AS on ccc tc dncdcccenasa 10
2. Conflict With The Eighth Circuit ........... 12
3. Conflict With State Courts Of Last Resort .... 13
4. An Important Question Of Federal Law
DR sheds ahwines sedans suet eueees 16
5. The Question Is Likely To Recur ........... 17
B. Liability Of The United States
Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 . eee eee eee rere 18
CME wo 6 Scenes che eebads hiatal eeiaaan 21
Vv
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Page
CASES:
Agins v. City of Tiburon, 447 U.S. 255 (1980) ......... 17
Amcon Corp. v. City of Eagan,
348 N.W.2d 66 (Minn. 1984) ....... ea gui ani sala 13
Central Bank and Trust Co. v. City of Miami Beach,
392 F.2d 549 (Sth Cir. 1968) ................. ae
City of Aurora v. Burns, 319 Ill. 84,
AD TER. FOR ho ko ho sea cee ve idiseeass 10, 13
City of Eastlake v. Forest City Enter., Inc.,
SIGUE, CORO ok. io on hv sda Rideee sc EEA 11
City of Miamj Beach v. Manilow, 226 So.2d 805
A: Fak BOD ova be cic Red eek eet ean ieee 11
Committee for Sensible Land Use v. Garfield Township,
124 Mich. App. 559, 335 N.W.2d 216 (Ct.App. 1983) . 11
Consolidated Rock Products Co. v. City of
Los Angeles, 57 Cal.2d 515, 370 P.2d 342 (1962) ..... 10
Cowart v. City of Ocala, 474 F.Supp. 774
ase Se err ee rere er or rr rT 10
De-Tom Enter., Inc. v. United States,
552 F.2d 337 (Ct.Cl. 1977) .....-- 20sec eee ees 19, 20
vi
East Lands, Inc. v. Floyd County, 244 Ga. 761,
BS DE DOEPUED + cv vcetsdocecseeedseunseeusas 16
Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co.,
272 U.S. 365 (1926) .........cc cee e cues 10, 11, 12, 13
Ewing v. City of Carmel-By-The-Sea, 234 Cal. App.3d
1579, 286 Cal. Rptr. 382 (Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1992) .... 10
Gordie Boucher Lincoln-Mercury Madison, Inc.
v. City of Madison Plan Commission,
178 Wis.2d 74, 503 N.W.2d 265 (Ct.App. 1993)... 13-14
Gorieb v. Fox, 274 U.S. 603 (1927) .............005. 10
Hadley v. Harold Realty Co., 97 R.I. 403,
50S ABE HC 4 6.0 ck advise cieseeeaee 13
Hageman v. Board of Trustees of Wayne Township,
20 Ohio App.2d 12, 252 N.E.2d 507 (Ct.App. 1969) ... 19
Hewitt v. County Commissioners of Baltimore County,
220 Md. 58, 63, 151 A.2d 144, 153 (1959) .......... 16
Lakewood, Ohio Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses,
Inc. v. City of Lakewood, 699 F.2d 303 (6th Cir. 1983) . 10
Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Commission,
SOR URE. STIG 5 bo ccassckicwdacsecteacccens 17
Marshall v. Salt Lake City, 105 Utah 111,
BOE FBS FOOCRTED 2.0 nec ecicvcewesdedeccsaccecs 11
Vii
Moore v. City of East Cleveland, 431 U.S. 494 (1977) ... 11
Payne v. Borkat, 244 Ga. 615, 617,
ee I ee cen Cl 11
Penn Central Transp. Co. v. New York City,
es HT ENEE itn sends de cenen ends enek dunce 12
Scott v. Champion Bldg. Co., 28 S.W.2d 178
CE sccvcccaveheeendseassenoen 11
Snell v. Curry County, (D.N.M. 1989), No. 85-788-M ... 18
State ex rel. Carter v. Harper, 182 Wis. 148,
Se ED <5 b chehadciweestccuveeevvens 13
State ex rel. Cobun v. Town of Star City, 157 W.Va. 86,
OS Ere ener ere 11
State ex rel. Henry v. City of Miami, 117 Fla. 594,
eee seca oe bus sou bie 13
State ex rel. Synod of Ohio of United Lutheran
Church of America v. Joseph, 139 Ohio St. 229,
BP RM OPER Ko ccncandccdacsasdssocccnce 11
Udell v. Hass, 21 N.Y.2d 463, 288 N.Y.S.2d 888,
SD CUNT CHIU vac cancececacecseseesss 11, 16
Welch v. Paicos, 66 F.Supp.2d 138 (D. Mass. 1999)....: 10
Women's Kansas City St. Andrew Soc. v. Kansas City,
eR ree 12-13
Viii
FEDERAL STATUTES:
Ps ED canna dkeaeadéec> ceubasacaeaden 2
DGGE BET 06a nnensdsdsrecseaseans 2, 8, 9, 18, 21
STATE STATUTES:
Texas Local Govt. Code § 211.004 ................. 2,9
Texas Local Government Code §§ 241.001 - 241.020 .... 2
Texas Local Govt. Code § 241.015 ...............005. 8
REGULATIONS:
32 C.F.R. Part 256 ...... eT PPTL Te EOTELEerieTe passim
I eras eas cate 4
Ste tS Fr -. s ARERYEEEXERESEREEEEEEEEERER ETE 4,5
32 CFR. § 2565. Fit ate a aie Gee ee 6
eS Se rent neh yon nist 4
SI BI 5s is addi 4
ORDINANCES:
Wichita Falls Ordinance No. 155-94 ............. passim
1X
I Sr ees ee dee beGceca lua cs 6,7
OTHER: ;
A Zoning Primer (1926), United States Department of
Commerce Advisory Committee on Zoning .......... 15
Bassett, Edward M.., “Constitutional Limitations on
City Planning Powers” (1917) ..............00005. 15
Bettman, Alfred, “Constitutionality of Zoning,” 37 Harv.L.Rev.
ea rk bes Wi Aha e's es ee 15
LAND USE PLANNING AND CONTROL LAW,
Juergensmeyer and Roberts (West Pub. 1998) ......... 15
Map of Noise Zones and Accident Potential Zones
for Sheppard Air Force Base .................0005. 5
Sheppard Air Force Base Map ....................... 7
Standard Zoning Enabling Act, United States
Department of Commerce ..................... 14-16
ZONING AND LAND USE CONTROLS
(P. Rohan and E. Kelly, eds., 1997) ................ 15
No. 01-___
INTHE _
Supreme Court of the United States
OCTOBER TERM, 2001
CHESTER COX, JR., et al.,
Petitioners,
v. |
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, A Texas
Incorporated Municipality; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA;
et all.,
Respondents.
——SSESIIII~Iy~_>IlIlI III I i SESS
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI
TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF
APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
III] ————————————————————————TTT—————
The Petitioners, Chester Cox, Jr., et al., respectfully pray that
a writ of certiorari issue to review the April 9, 2001 judgment and
opinion of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
in the above-captioned action.
OPINIONS BELOW
The opinion and judgment of the United States Court of
Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is not reported and is reprinted in the
1
—
2
appendix hereto, infra at A-1. The Memorandum Opinion and
Order of the United States District Court for the Northern District
of Texas, Wichita Falls Division, dated September 1, 1999, granting
summary judgment to Defendants (“Mem. Op.”’), is not reported
and is reprinted at A-2, infra. The Judgment of the District Court
dismissing Petitioners’ complaint, dated September 1, 1999, is not
reported and is reprinted at A-22, infra. The District Court’s
Order denying Plaintiff's motion for leave to amend and other
related relief, dated July 14, 2000, is not reported and is reprinted
at A-23, infra. i
STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION
Petitioners seek review from the Opinion and Judgment of the
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit of April 9,
2001. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction to review cases from the
United States Courts of Appeals pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1254(1).
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS, STATUTES,
REGULATIONS, AND ORDINANCE INVOLVED
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution provides
in pertinent part that: “No person shail. . .be deprived of life, liberty,
or property, without due process of law... .”
Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution provides in pertinent part that: “No State shall. . .
deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process
of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection of the laws.”
42 U.S.C. § 1983 provides in pertinent part that:
3
Every person who, under color of any statute,
ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any
State. .., subjects, or causes to be subjected, any
citizen of the United States or other person within
the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any
rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the
Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party
injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other
proper proceeding for redress. . . .
The United States Department of Defense (“DoD”) Air
Installation Compatible Use Zone Regulations, 32 C.F.R. Part 256,
etseq., (the “AICUZ Regulations”), are reprinted at A-24, infra.
City of Wichita Falls Ordinance No. 155-94 (the “Ordinance”) is
reprinted at A-46, infra. Texas Local Govt. Code § 211.004, is
reprinted at A-74, infra. Texas Local Govt. Code §§ 241.001
through 241.020 are reprinted at A-75, infra.
STATEMENT OF THE CASE
The facts of this case are undisputed. Petitioners are property
owners, including ranchers, farmers and homeowners, whose lands
are located: (1)in a predominantly rural portion of Wichita County,
Texas (the “County”); (2) outside the boundaries of the City of
Wichita Falls (the “City”); and (3) north of Sheppard Air Force
Base (“Sheppard” or the “Base’”’).
The County has no zoning. Thus, aside from the City’s
extraterritorial zoning Ordinance, whose constitutionality is
challenged herein, Petitioners’ lands have never been zoned.
In the early 1990's, Sheppard added a new runway directing
new flights over Petitioners’ lands, substantially extended an existing
4
runway toward Petitioners’ lands, and substantially increased the
number of flights and intensity of air installation activities in support
of its new mission to train NATO pilots (collectively, the “Sheppard
Expansion”). The Sheppard Expansion required the air installation
to comply with the AICUZ Regulations.
In the AICUZ Regulations, DoD: (1) established a uniform,
extensive, and detailed list of land uses that it determined should not
be undertaken on private property in proximity to air installations
(32 C.F.R. § 256.8, infra at A-37 to A-41); and (2) mandated that
every United States military air installation attempt to cause local
government zoning to be enacted preventing such uses of private
property (32 C.F.R. § 256.4(b)(2)(ii)(B), infra at A-30).
The AICUZ Regulations contemplate two basic types of
districts: Accident Potential Zones (“APZs”) and Noise Zones
(collectively referred to as “compatible use zones” or “CUZs”).
See 32 C.F.R. § 256.3(c). APZs are lands that are past each end
of a runway and are subdivided into Clear Zones and Accident
Potential Zones I and II (“APZ I’ and “APZ IT’). See the
schematic drawing showing the relative position and size of each
APZ in 32 C.F.R. § 256.7, infra at A-36.'
Under the AICUZ program, there are a minimum of four Noise
Zones, each corresponding to a particular decibel (“dB”) level of
noise on surrounding lands arising from air installation activities: 65-
70dB, 70-75dB, 75-80dB, and 80+dB. Noise Zones are irregular
1. The Clear Zone begins at the ends of each runway and, for the major
runways at Sheppard, measures 3,000 feet in length and width. APZ I begins
at the end of each clear zone and, for major runways, measures 5,000 feet in
length and 3,000 feet in width. APZ II begins at the end of APZ I and, for
major runways, measures 7,000 feet in length and 3,000 feet in width. Jd.
ee eee Se ee re eT
5
in shape and follow noise decibel contour lines. See the Map of
Noise Zones and APZs for Sheppard, infra at A-87. As shown
thereon, Noise Zones and APZs are not mutually exclusive and
private property can be in both. Jd. For example, many of
Petitioners’ lands are in either APZ I or APZ IL, as well as in one of
the two highest Noise Zones.
In addition to affirmatively requiring each air installation to seek
implementation of the AICUZ program via local zoning, the
AICUZ Regulations also impose strict limits on the private property
rights that air installations can acquire via eminent domain:
(A) The first priority is the acquisition in fee and/or
appropriate restrictive easements of lands within the
clear zones whenever practicable.
(B) Outside the clear-zone, program for the
acquisition of interests, first in Accident Potential
Zones and secondly in high noise areas only when
all possibilities of achieving compatible use
zoning, or similar protection, have been
exhausted and the operational integrity of the air
installation is manifestly threatened. . . .
32 C.F.R. § 256.4(b)(2)(ii) (emphasis added).
Thus, outside the Clear Zone, unless a use of property
manifestly threatens the operational integrity of the air installation,
private property rights will not be acquired. However, the AICUZ
Regulations require each military air installation to seek local zoning
to implement AICUZ, including to prohibit lawful uses which do not
and will not manifestly threaten the operational integrity of the air
installation and, thus, would never be acquired via eminent domain.
6
To identify and communicate the precise compatible use zoning
to be sought by the United States, each air installation is required to
promulgate an AICUZ Study. See 32 C.F.R. § 256.5. The
AICUZ Study must be consistent with the AICUZ Regulations. Jd.
Accordingly, in May, 1992, Sheppard promulgated an AICUZ
Study in connection with the Sheppard Expansion in which it called
for implementation of the DoD AICUZ program via enactment of
zoning by the City. The AICUZ Study was consistent with the
AICUZ Regulations and included: 1) maps delineating the proposed
location of the APZs and all Noise Zones; 2) the uses proposed to
be prohibited and allowed in each zone, including prohibition of all
residential use in APZ I and the 75 and 80 dB zones; 3) the noise
attenuation measures proposed to be required of property owners
in the Noise Zones; 4) proposed density limits; and 5) proposed
height and other limits on construction.
In 1994, at the request of Sheppard (and partially motivated by
the fear of base closure), the City enacted the Ordinance
implementing the zoning exactly as proposed in Sheppard’s AICUZ
Study. Indeed, the Ordinance is a virtual verbatim repetition of the
Sheppard AICUZ Study. For example:
1. The Ordinance establishes zoning districts by incorporating
byreference the zone boundary maps from the AICUZ Study. See
Ordinance § 6430(A), infra at A-52 (regarding APZ and Clear
Zone boundaries); and Ordinance § 6435(A), infra at A-53
(regarding Noise Zone boundaries). See the map, infra at A-87.
2. The Ordinance delineates permitted and prohibited uses
(including the proscription against residential use in APZ L, 75 dB
and 80 dB zones) by incorporating by reference the list of
compatible and prohibited uses for each zone as set forth in the
7
Sheppard AICUZ Study. See Ordinance § 6430(B), infra at A-52
(regarding APZs); and Ordinance § 6435(B), infra at A-53
(regarding Noise Zones).”
The City has expressly admitted in its Answer and the United
States has not denied that:
(1) the Ordinance zones only the lands identified in the AICUZ
Study and zones solely to implement the AICUZ Study;
(2) the City conducted no independent studies prior to adopting
the Ordinance; and
(3) the Ordinance zoned a tiny fraction of the unincorporated
portion of the County, leaving the vast majority of the County
unzoned.
Although Sheppard itself is within the Ordinance’s Noise Zones,
Sheppard and the United States have not waived their immunity to
the Ordinance. Sheppard is essentially a small city and its uses
would violate numerous provisions of the Ordinance if undertaken
on private property.’ Thus, Sheppard and the United States remain
immune from the Ordinance’s burdens, while such burdens fall
solely on Petitioners and other private property owners. The
Ordinance creates no reciprocity; the United States and Sheppard
benefit, while Petitioners are burdened.
2. The Ordinance’s Land Use Compatibility Table is virtually identical to the
Land Use Compatibility Table in the AICUZ Study; the density limits are
identical; the noise attenuation measures required are identical; many of the
3. See Sheppard AFB Map, infra at A-89 and A-90.
8
The Ordinance is not comprehensive zoning and was not
enacted in accordance with a comprehensive plan, as the
Ordinance: 1) zones for the sole purpose of implementing the
AICUZ Study; 2) does not create reciprocal benefits and burdens;
and 3) zones only a tiny fraction of the unincorporated area of the
County. The lack of comprehensiveness is not merely a position
advocated by Petitioners. At all stages of this litigation the City has
expressly and formally admitted, and the United States has not
denied, that the Ordinance is not comprehensive zoning and that it
was not adopted in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
Petitioners commenced this action alleging, inter alia, that: 1)
the Ordinance violated the due process and equal protection clauses
of the United States Constitution because it is not comprehensive
zoning and was not adopted in accordance with a comprehensive
plan; and 2) the City and the United States and/or its personnel are
“co-zoners” and jointly liable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for the
deprivation of Petitioners’ federally protected constitutional rights
under color of state law.
The City and United States moved for summary judgment
which was granted by the District Court. The District Court
acknowledged that the Ordinance was not comprehensive, but held
that the applicable Texas enabling legislation, particularly Texas
Local Govt. Code § 241.015 (infra at A-82), did not require that
the Ordinance be comprehensive and adopted in accordance with
a comprehensive plan. (Mem. Op., infra at A-8 to A-10.)
In essence, the District Court disposed of Petitioners’ federal
constitutional comprehensive plan claim on state statutory
grounds, by concluding that zoning need only be comprehensive and
in accordance with a comprehensive plan if so required in the
applicable state enabling legislation. (Jd.) Conversely, by its silence,
9
the District Court rejected Petitioners’ claim that the United States
Constitution requires zoning to be comprehensive.‘ (/d.) Finding
no constitutional violation, the Court dismissed Petitioners’ claims
under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. (Mem. Op., infra at A-14 to A-16.)
Petitioners appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the
Fifth Circuit. On April 9, 2001, the Court of Appeals affirmed
without opinion (infra at A-1.)
REASONS FOR GRANTING THE WRIT
SINCE THE FIFTH CIRCUIT’S DECISION CONFLICTS
WITH THE RELEVANT DECISIONS OF THIS COURT,
THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, AND
VARIOUS STATE COURTS OF LAST RESORT; AND
SINCE IMPORTANT FEDERAL QUESTIONS ARE
PRESENTED THAT HAVE NOT BEEN, BUT SHOULD
BE, SETTLED BY THIS COURT; THE PETITION FOR
WRIT OF CERTIORARI SHOULD BE GRANTED
A. The Comprehensive Zoning Question
This petition invites the Court to address whether Petitioners’
federally protected constitutional rights to due process and equal
4. In part, it appeared that the District Court declined to reach Petitioners’
federal constitutional comprehensive plan claim because Petitioners had not
challenged the constitutionality of the Texas Local Government Code
enabling legislation. Petitioners had not originally challenged the
constitutionality of the state enabling law because Petitioners argued that
Texas Local Govt. Code § 211.004 required all zoning to be in accordance
with a comprehensive plan. (A- 9, infra.) When the District Court held to
the contrary, Petitioners timely sought leave to amend to challenge the
constitutionality of the state enabling law and thereby raise the identical
constitutional comprehensive plan claims. Petitioners’ motion was denied,
without opinion. See Order, infra, at A-23.
10
protection were violated by imposition of zoning on their lands that
is not comprehensive.
1. Conflict With Rel Decisi ‘This C
In the landmark case of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co., 272
U.S. 365 (1926), this Court specifically upheld the constitutionality
of comprehensive zoning and the use of such zoning to prohibit
otherwise lawful uses of land from entire districts or zones.* The
Court characterized the Euclid zoning ordinance as
“comprehensive” and relied on numerous cases in which the
constitutionality of comprehensive zoning had been upheld by state
courts of last resort.®
Decisions subsequent to Euclid confirm that numerous federal’
and state courts® cite Euclid as sustaining the constitutionality of
5. See Gorieb v. Fox, 274 U.S. 603, 607 (1927) (reconfirming that Euclid
sustained the constitutionality of “comprehensive zoning laws and
ordinances”).
6. See, e.g., City of Aurora v. Burns, 319 Ill. 84, 149 N_E. 784, 788 (1925)
(Illinois Supreme Court holding that: “Zoning necessarily involves a
consideration of the community as a whole and a comprehensive view of its
needs”).
7. Central Bank and Trust Co. v. City of Miami Beach, 392 F.2d 549, 550
(Sth Cir. 1968); Lakewood, Ohio Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Inc.
v. City of Lakewood, 699 F.2d 303, 307 (6th Cir. 1983), cert. den., 464 U.S. 815
(1983); Welch v. Paicos, 66 F. Supp.2d 138, 164 (D. Mass. 1999); Cowart v.
City of Ocala, 474 F Supp. 774, 780 (M.D. Fla. 1979).
8. See Consolidated Rock Products Co. v. City of Los Angeles, 57 Cal.2d
515, 521,370 P.2d 342, 346 (1962) (California Supreme Court holding that after
the Euclid decision “comprehensive zoning had taken its place as a
constitutionally recognized part of our legal and political system); app.
dismissed 371 U.S. 36; por} “orden City of Carmel-By-The-Sea, 234 Cal.
11
comprehensive zoning.
Similarly, Justice Stevens wrote in a concurring opinion in
Moore v. City of East Cleveland, 431 U.S. 494 (1977), that
Euclid sustained the constitutionality of a city using “its police
power, not just to abate a specific use of property which proved
offensive, but also to create and implement a comprehensive plan
for the use of land in the community...”. Jd. at 513-14.
Justices Stevens and Brennan, dissenting in City of Eastlake v.
Forest City Enter., Inc., 426 U.S. 668 (1976), confirmed that ?
zoning must be comprehensive to be rational by including in their
dissent the following quote from the New York Court of Appeals
decision in Udell v. Hass, 21 N.Y.2d 463, 469, 288 N.Y.S.2d
888, 893-894, 235 N.E.2d 897, 900-901 (1968):
[T]he comprehensive plan is the essence of zoning. Without
it, there can be no rational allocation of land use.
Eastlake, 426 U.S. at 690, n. 12.
App.3d 1579, 1587, 286 Cal. Rptr. 382, 385 (Ct. App. 6th Dist. 1992)
(confirming that the Euclid Court “confronted for the first time a
comprehensive zoning scheme...” and upheld its constitutionality after it
“examined the reasons for comprehensive zoning”).
See also Scott v. Champion Bldg. Co., 28 S.W.2d 178, 181
(Tx.Ct.Civ.App. 1930); Committee for Sensible Land Use v. Garfield
Township, 124 Mich. App. 559, 566, 335 N.W.2d 216, 219 (Ct.App. 1983);
Payne v. Borkat, 244 Ga. 615, 617, 261 S.E.2d 393, 394 (1979); State ex rel.
Cobun v. Town of Star City, 157 W.Va. 86, 89, 197 S.E.2d 102, 104 (1973);
City of Miami Beach v. Manilow, 226 So.2d 805, 806 (S.Ct. Fla. 1969);
Marshall v. Salt Lake City, 105 Utah 111, 141 P.2d 704, 709 (1943); and State
ex rel. Synod of Ohio of United Lutheran Church of America v. Joseph, 139
Ohio St. 229, 39 N.E.2d 515, 521 (1942).
12
Soon after Eastlake and Moore, a majority of the Court’s
justices, in dicta, acknowledged the fundamental importance of
comprehensiveness in relation to zoning. In his dissent in Penn
Central Transp. Co. v. City of New York, 438 U.S. 104 (1978),
now Chief Justice Rehnquist (joined by then Chief Justice Burger
and Justice Stevens) quoted as follows from the New York Court
of Appeals decision then on appeal: “Zoning restrictions operate to
advance a community plan for the common good. Each property
owner in the zone is both benefitted and restricted. ..”. Jd. at 139.
The dissenters in Penn Central emphasized that reciprocity of
benefits and burdens -- one of the basic elements of
comprehensiveness -- is essential to zoning and was lacking in the
New York City Landmarks Law. Jd. at 139-140. The Penn
Central majority acknowledged the importance of
comprehensiveness in respect of zoning, but concluded that the
New York City Landmarks Law was comprehensive. Jd. at 132.
Plainly, a significant number of Justices have opined, post-
Euclid, that comprehensiveness is either the essence of, or critically
important to, constitutionally valid zoning. A fair collective reading
of Euclid, the aforementioned opinions of the Justices of this Court,
and the opinions from other federal and state courts citing to and
relying on Euclid, appears to sustain the proposition that this Court
requires that zoning be comprehensive to be constitutional. Ifso,
then the Fifth Circuit’s affirmation of the District Court’s decision
holding zoning need not be comprehensive or in accordance with a
comprehensive plan unless mandated by the state legislature,
conflicts with the relevant decisions of this Court, especially Euclid.
2. Conflict With The Eighth Circui
The Fifth Circuit’s decision also conflicts with the Eighth
Circuit’s decision in Women’s Kansas City St. Andrew Soc. v.
13
Kansas City, 58 F.2d 593, 604 (8th Cir. 1932). There, relying on
Euclid and Aurora, the Eighth Circuit expressly held that zoning
which excludes land uses from residential districts can be sustained
only ifthe exclusions are in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
3. Conflict With State Courts t Resort
The Fifth Circuit’s decision conflicts with decisions by state
courts of last resort that zoning must be comprehensive and in
accordance with a comprehensive plan to be sustained under the
United States Constitution. For example, in Amcon Corp. v. City
of Eagan, 348 N.W.2d 66 (Minn. 1984), the Minnesota Supreme
Court held as follows:
The essence of constitutional zoning with no due process or
equal protection problems is generally recognized to be
demonstrated by the existence of a plan which uniformly,
without discrimination and without unreasonable restrictions,
promotes the general welfare.
Id. at 74. See also Hadley v. Harold Realty Co., 97 R.1. 403,
409, 198 A.2d 149, 152 (1964) (Supreme Court of Rhode Island
holding that zoning in accordance with a comprehensive plan is a
“constitutional necessity”); and State ex rel. Carter v. Harper, 182
Wis. 148, 196 N.W. 451 (1923).°
The Fifth Circuit decision is also in conflict with Gordie
9. See also State ex rel. Henry v. City of Miami, 117 Fla. 594, 600, 158 So. 82,
84 (1932) (Concurring Opinion of Chief Justice Davis stating that “in order
to be constitutional under the due process clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment to the Federal Constitution, zoning ordinances must be passed
in aid of some ‘plan’ that is general and comprehensive in character. . .”).
14
Boucher Lincoln-Mercury Madison, Inc. v. City of Madison
Plan Commission, 178 Wis.2d 74, 503 N.W.2d 265 (Ct.App.
1993), review denied, 508 N.W.2d 421 (1993). There, the
Wisconsin Court of Appeals held that the statutory
comprehensiveness requirement was enacted to prevent localities
from zoning in a manner that would violate the Constitution:
To insure that. . . “reciprocity of benefits” will mure to the
property owner, the legislature has mandated that “[zoning]
regulation [in a city] shall be made in accordance with the
comprehensive plan.”. . . /t is not a legislative accident
that the city master plan must contain “a
comprehensive zoning plan.”....
The procedures by which cities and counties impose
zoning controls on the use of land satisfy constitutional
requirements. First, in each case the zoning ordinance
must be comprehensive.
Id., 178 Wis.2d at 94-95; 503 N.W.2d at 272 (emphasis added).
The source of the statutory requirement that zoning be
comprehensive is the Standard Zoning Enabling Act (“SZEA”’)
promulgated by the Department of Commerce Advisory Committee
on Zoning.’° First issued in 1924, Section 3 of the SZEA provides
10. The Advisory Committee, appointed by then Commerce Secretary
Herbert Hoover, was a blue ribbon panel, members of which included Edward
M. Bassett, Esq. (the principal drafter of the New York City zoning
ordinance; generally recognized as the first comprehensive zoning ordinance
in the nation); Alfred Bettman, Esq. (who submitted the amicus curiae
“Brandeis Brief” on behalf cf the National Conference of City Planning in
Euclid, that was a significant catalyst for this Court’s upholding of
comprehensive zoning on rehearing); and Frederick Law Olmsted (the
renowned landscape architect who designed New York’s Central Park).
15
that municipal zoning regulations “‘shall be made in accordance with
a comprehensive plan. . .”.'' The SZEA was extraordinarily
successful and became the basis for state zoning enabling laws in
every state.!?
Messrs. Bettman and Bassett, the principal legal drafters of the
SZEA, were well aware that if zoning was not enacted
comprehensively, it would stand little chance of being sustained as
constitutional. In a pamphlet revised and issued prior to Euclid in
1926, entitled “A Zoning Primer,” the Advisory Committee stated
as follows: “When a zoning law is properly drawn there is no doubt
that the courts will supportit. . .. In fact, the courts have approved
zoning whenever it was done sensibly and comprehensively.”.!
11. The full text of the SZEA is reprinted in 8 ZONING AND LAND USE
CONTROLS § 53.01[1] (P. Rohan and E. Kelly, eds., 1997).
12. LAND USE PLANNING AND CONTROL LAW, Juergensmeyer and
Roberts (West Pub. 1998) § 3.6, p. 46.
13. In their individual writings Messrs. Bettman and Bassett stressed the
importance of comprehensiveness. See Bettman, Alfred, “Constitutionality
of Zoning,” 37 Harv.L.Rev. 834, 844-45 (1923), where Mr. Bettman wrote:
The comprehensive plan, however, is not a mere arbitrary
selection of districts, . . . but is the whole community’s
plan, motivated by the desire for the promotion of the best
practicable districting of the whole territory for the benefit _
of all. In short, to adopt a colloquialism of the day, it is
the comprehensiveness which puts the “reason” into
“reasonableness.” (Emphasis added).
See also Bassett, Edward M., “Constitutional Limitations on City
Planning Powers” (a paper prepared on behalf of the N.Y.C. Committee on
the City Plan and delivered at the National Conference on City Planning held
at Kansas City, Mo., May 7-9, 1917) at 10, where Mr. Bassett stated that:
“The framing of the [zoning] ordinance should follow careful investigations
so that it will be reasonable, comprehensive and, not discriminatory.”
16
Thus, the comprehensive plan requirement was included in the
SZEA to codify applicable federal due process and equal protection
constitutional requirements and thereby assure that municipal zoning
did not violate federally protected constitutional rights. The decision
of the Fifth Circuit is in conflict with the decisions of the state courts
of last resort that have evaluated the SZEA’s comprehensive plan
requirement and held, that in the absence of comprehensiveness,
zoning is arbitrary, irrational, unreasonable, and, a fortiorari,
unconstitutional.
For example, the New York Court of Appeals, after noting that
the comprehensive plan requirement has its genesis in the SZEA,
stated that comprehensiveness is necessary to assure that zoning is
“enacted for the benefit of the community as whole;” and that the
comprehensive plan requirement “is not a mere technicality.” Thus,
the Court of Appeals held that zoning in accordance with a
comprehensive plan “is the essence of zoning” and “[w]ithout it
there can be no rational allocation of land use.” Udell, supra, 21
N.Y.2d at 469; 288 N.Y.S.2d at 893; 235 N.E.2d at 900-901."
4. An Important Question of Federal Law Is Presented
There is no more fundamental constitutional question in relation
to the promulgation of zoning than whether due process and equal
protection require comprehensiveness. The issue presented is as
fundamental to the first prong of the two part test for constitutionality
14. See also East Lands, Inc. v. Floyd County, 244 Ga. 761, 262 S.E.2d 51,
52, n.2 (1979) (noting that the statutory comprehensive plan requirement “is
intended to avoid arbitrary, unreasonable or discriminatory use of zoning
power”); and Hewitt v. County Commissioners of Baltimore County, 220
Md. 58, 63, 151 A.2d 144, 153 (1959) (noting the tendency to “equate
comprehensive plan requirements with constitutional requirements”).
17
enunciated in Agins v. City of Tiburon, 447 U.S. 255 (1980), as
a categorical taking was found to be to in respect of the second
prong of the test. See Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal
Commission, 505 U.S. 1003 (1992).
Essentially, this case affords the Court the opportunity to
establish the basic principles of federal law inherent to the enactment
of all zoning. If given the opportunity to fully brief this issue,
Petitioners would argue that the principles of comprehensiveness --
community-wide focus, reciprocal benefits and burdens, and wide
or significant geographic inclusion -- are necessary to assure that
zoning is not arbitrary, capricious or discriminatory. Petitioners
cannot identify a more fundamental or important issue of federal law
concerning the facial constitutionality of all zoning.'°
5. The Question Presented Is Likely To Recur
Although zoning is prevalent in municipalities, large expanses of
rural or semi-rural land throughout the United States are not zoned.
Often military air installations are set in or near such unzoned lands.
Accordingly, the mandate of the AICUZ Regulations, that air
installations seek compatible use zoning, exerts strong pressure to
zone such unzoned rural and semi-rural land. For example, Cannon
Air Force Base, in Curry County, New Mexico, also caused a unit
of local government to impose zoning on lands that were not
15. Subsumed within the comprehensiveness issue is the question of
whether it is a legitimate exercise of the City’s police power to enact zoning
for the sole benefit of the United States, not because of any identified harm
that is being caused by private property owners, but because a military air
installation is expanding its operations and the AICUZ Regulations prohibit
acquisition of most private property rights by eminent domain. If given the
opportunity to brief the issue, Petitioners would argue that such zoning is
in conflict with comprehensive zoning.
18
otherwise zoned solely for the purpose of implementing an AICUZ
Study. '°
The constitutional issue of comprehensiveness becomes even
more imperative when, as in this case, a municipality exercises
zoning powers extraterritorially. Since the affected property owners
cannot vote in municipal elections, only constitutional principles of
due process and equal protection can check an otherwise unfettered
exercise of zoning power. Articulation of the basic due process
rights attendant to enactment of zoning is of great importance to all
those property owners whose lands are not zoned and are in the
vicinity of military air installations or are in rural or semi-rural parts
of the United States and face zoning pressure.
Although AICUZ is the one source of pressure to zone such
lands, pressure also arises from increased development and urban
sprawl. Both sources of zoning pressure show no signs of abating.
The constitutional question presented is likely to recur.
B. Liability Of The United States Under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
This case also presents an important issue of federalism and the
proper constitutional relationship between United States agencies
and instrumentalities of the states.
16. In an unreported decision of the United States District Court for the
District of New Mexico, the zoning was found not to be comprehensive and
found to violate the New Mexico statutory requirement that zoning be
adopted in accordance with a comprehensive plan. See Snell v. Curry
County (N.M. 1989), No. 85-788-M, Memorandum Opinion and Order of
Senior U.S. District Judge Edwin Mechem, dated September 6, 1989 granting
Petitioners’ summary judgment. The constitutional issues raised in this case
were not presented in Snell because Curry County conceded that it was
required to zone in accordance with a comprehensive plan under New
Mexico law.
19
Reliance by DoD on local zoning powers exercised under color
of state law to proscribe otherwise lawful non-harmful uses of land,
in lieu of condemnation, appears to be unprecedented. No other
federal agency has been identified that has adopted similar
regulations and no case could be found alluding to analogous
regulations by any other federal agency.
Whether federal agencies can eschew eminent domain and
employ municipalities to adopt laws or regulations eliminating
private property rights for the benefit of the United States, is an
important questidn of federal law that has not been adjudicated."”
Relying on De-Tom Enter., Inc. v. United States, 552 F.2d
337 (Ct.Cl. 1977) and its progeny, the District Court held, and the
Fifth Circuit affirmed, that the AICUZ process is simply a military
air installation providing benign planning advice to the locality to aid
in its land use planning efforts (Mem. Op., infra at A-19). In De-
Tom, the Court of Claims held that the United States did not take
17. In part, the District Court, as affirmed by the Fifth Circuit, sought to
bypass this issue by stating that the Ordinance was actually enacted for the
benefit of the surrounding property owners and needed to protect their
safety. (Mem. Op., infra at A-9.) The Fifth Circuit’s decision is in conflict
with Hageman v. Board of Trustees of Wayne Township, 20 Ohio App.2d 12,
252 N.E.2d 507, 512 (Ct.App. 1969). There, the Ohio Court of Appeals: 1)
struck down municipal zoning enacted to implement the Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base AICUZ study; 2) rejected the contention that the zoning was
enacted to protect property owners surrounding the base; and 3) held that
“(t]he source of the threat to their safety lies in the present and future uses
of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which are uses for the benefit of a
governmental agency.” Jd., 251 N.E.2d at 512.
In this regard, there is no factual dispute that the Sheppard
Expansion triggered the preparation of the AICUZ Study and the enactment
of the Ordinance. Neither the City nor the United States ever asserted that
any uses of Petitioners’ lands encroached upon or interfered with any Base
activities.
20
private property when military air installation officials testified in
opposition to a private property owner’s proposal to rezone its
property to allow significant new development.
Put simply, De-Tom holds that the mere act of opposing a
proposed rezoning, without more, did not cause a taking by the
United States. The Court concluded that the United States was
acting, as any property owner could, to protect its interests. Under
the facts and claims before the Court of Claims, Petitioners do not
assert that De-Tom was decided in error.'®
However, an important federal question is presented concerning
potential liability of the United States and its agents on non-takings
grounds when the United States military does not merely act
defensively to preserve the status quo; but affirmatively seeks
enactment of zoning, solely for the benefit of one of its air
installations (via municipal powers exercised under color of state
law), to prohibit numerous legal non-harmful land uses enumerated
in the AICUZ Regulations.
It is disturbing that DoD adopted regulations forcing its air
installations to seek such zoning from municipalities, yet now asserts
that it cannot be held liable for any resulting unconstitutional zoning
because its personnel were purportedly merely giving planning
advice to localities. As posited by the United States, because only
“advice” is being given, any liability arising from imposition of
unconstitutional zoning rests solely with the municipality.
If given the opportunity to brief this issue, Petitioners would
18. Of course, as De-Tom was litigated before the Court of Claims, the Court
had no jurisdiction to consider whether any other non-takings basis for
liability could exist under differing facts.
al
21
argue that the United States and/or its personnel are jointly liable
with the City for imposition of unconstitutional zoning, as they
collectively acted as “co-zoners” under the facts of this case. In that
regard, it is significant that every land use regulation imposed by the
Ordinance was incorporated by reference, or copied virtually
verbatim, from the Sheppard AICUZ Study and those, in turn,
were substantially copied from the AICUZ Regulations.
In other words, if the zoning called for in the AICUZ
Regulations, crafted in the Sheppard AICUZ study, sought and
obtained by Sheppard personnel from the City, is unconstitutional
-- either because it is not comprehensive or otherwise is not a
constitutionally permitted exercise of the municipal police power --
then, an important federal law question is presented, to wit: whether
the United States and/or its personnel acted jointly with the City to
deprive Petitioners of their federally protected constitutional nights
under color of state law as proscribed by 42 U.S.C. § 1983? This
federal question is likely to recur as other municipalities zone to
implement AICUZ studies and should be settled by this Court now.
~ CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated hereinabove, Petitioners pray that the
Petition for Writ of Certiorari be granted.
Respectfully submitted,
Steven Barshov
Stadtmauer Bailkin LLP
850 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 822-2247
July 9, 2001
tena
A-1l
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-11249
CHESTER COX, JR., ET AL.,
Plaintiffs - Appellants,
versus
CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, a Texas
Incorporated Municipality, ET AL.,
Defendants - Appellees.
Appeal from the United States District Court
for the Northern District of Texas
(7:96-CV-145)
Before GARWOOD, HALL,' and BARKSDALE, Circuit
Judges.
PER CURIAM:?
AFFIRMED. See 5" Cir. R. 47.6.
1. Circuit Judge of the Ninth Circuit, sitting by designation.
2. Pursuant to 5* CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion
should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited
circumstances set forth in 5“ CIR. R. 47.5.4.
A-2
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
WICHITA FALLS DIVISION
CHESTER COX, JR., etal, §
Plaintiffs,
vs. Case No. 7:96-CV-145-X
FALLS, TEXAS, A Texas
Incorporated Municipality,
§
§
§
§
§
CITY OF WICHITA §
§
§
et al, §
§
§
Before the Court are the following:
(1) City of Wichita Falls’ Motion for Summary
Judgment (and brief in support), filed January 27, 1999;
(2) Plaintiff's Memorandum of Law in Opposition to
City of Wichita Falls’ Motion for Summary Judgment, filed
February 16, 1999;
(3) Cityof Wichita Falls’ Briefin Reply to Plaintiff's
Response to City of Wichita Falls’ Motion for Summary Judgment,
filed March 2, 1999;
A-3
(4) United States’’ Motion for Summary Judgment (and
brief in support), filed January 29, 1999;
(5) Plaintiffs’ Memorandum of Law in Opposition
to the United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment, filed February
18, 1999;
(6) Undisputed Documents Relevant to Adjudication of
the Parties’ Pending Motions for Summary Judgment, filed February
18, 1999; and
(7) United States’ Reply to Plaintiffs’ Opposition to the
United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment, filed March 3, 1999.
After carefully considering the motions, briefs, supporting
evidentiary submissions, and applicable law, the Court determines
that no issues of material fact exist with respect to the issues raised
in the motions for summary judgment. Therefore, the City of
Wichita Falls’ Motion for Summary Judgment and the United
States’ Motion for Summary Judgment are both GRANTED.
1. The United States of America filed its Motion for summary Judgmetn on
behalf of itself and on behalf of all Federal Officers and Federal Defendants
named as parties. The Federal Defendants are: the United States of America;
the United States Department of Defense; William H. Perry, in his Official
Capacity as Secretary of the Department of Defense [or sucessor]; the
United States Department of the Air force; Sheila Widnall, in her Official
Capacity as Secretrary of the Department of the Air Force [or successor];
Sheppard Air Force Base; and General Michael Zettler, in his Official
Capacity as Base Commander of Sheppard Air Force Base [or successor].
These entities and individuals will be collectively referred to herein as the
“Federal Defendants.”
A-4
BACKGROUND
This is an action brought by owners of real property located
outside the corporate limits of Wichita Falls, Texas (the “City’”) and
within the unincorporated area of the County governed by a 1994
airport zoning ordinance known as Ordinance 155-94 (the
“Ordinance”) adopted by the City. The Plaintiffs live in close
proximity to Sheppard Air Force Base (“Sheppard”’), and are
challenging the constitutionality of the Ordinance and the
constitutionality of the Department of Defense (“DoD”’) regulations
which establish the Air Installation Compatible Use Zone program |
(“AICUZ Regulations”).”
The AICUZ program is a DoD planning program designed
to promote compatible land use around airfields utilized by the
military departments. As a part of the AICUZ process, military
installations with a flying mission in the United States must publish
reports that describe the obstruction, noise, and accident potential
areas, evaluate the compatibility of current and projected land use,
and provide recommendations for use by local communities. Noise
studies and noise contour maps are a significant aspect of the
AICUZ process. Under the AICUZ process, however,
fundamental land use decisions remain subject to state and local
authority.
Pursuant to the AICUZ Regulations, personnel at Sheppard
prepared AICUZ Studies which recommended, inter alia, that
zoning ordinances should be adopted or modified to reflect the
compatible land uses outlined in the Sheppard AICUZ Studies. The
City enacted the Ordinance, which incorporated the Sheppard
2. 32 CFR. § 256.1 et. seq.
A-5
AICUZ Studies. The Ordinance’s stated purpose is:
“{T]o ensure protection of the utility of Sheppard Air Force
Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport and the public
investment by the regulation of land uses in the vicinity of
Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport
where it has been determined that Sheppard Air Force
Base is an essential part of the City and surrounding cities
and counties. It is also the purpose of this provision to
protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public
where it is recognized that obstructions, aircraft accidents,
and excessive noise have the potential for endangering or
harming the lives and/or property of users or occupants of
land in the vicinity of Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita
Falls Municipal Airport.”?
A. laintiffs’ Contenti Regardin dinance
The Ordinance regulates the use of property inside the City
limits, as well as in an area of Wichita County outside the City limits
(the “Extraterritorial Area”). The Ordinance is the only zoning
governing the use of property in the Extraterritorial Area. Plaintiffs
contend that there isno comprehensive plan for the unincorporated
area of Wichita County, including the Extraterritorial Area. In the
first cause of action, Plaintiffs contend that the Ordinance was not
adopted in accordance with a comprehensive plan allegedly causing
the Ordinance to be unconstitutional on its face insofar as it attempts
to regulate the use of property in the Extraterritorial Area in violation
of the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fifth and
3. See Tab A to Undisputed Documents Relevant to Adjudication of the
Parties’ Pending Motions for Summary Judgment, Attachment A, Section
6405.
A-6
Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and the
Texas State Constitution.
Plaintiffs also contend that the Ordinance was enacted for
the purpose of granting valuable property nghts to the United States
which allegedly it could obtain directly and unilaterally only via
condemnation. In the second cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that
the Ordinance was not enacted for a legitimate police power
purpose, but to eliminate the need for the United States to condemn
such rights, which Plaintiffs contend is not a legitimate police power
purpose and therefore violates the due process rights protected by
the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution, as well as the Texas State Constitution.
Plaintiffs also contend that the AICUZ Regulations require
officials and employees of the United States to cause AICUZ
Studies to be implemented by enactment of zoning ordinances
pursuant to zoning powers granted to units of local government
under color of state law. Plaintiffs contend that officials and
employees of Sheppard joined with the City to create the Ordinance
and cause its enactment under zoning powers granted to the City
under state law. In the third cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that the
adoption of the Ordinance violated Plaintiffs’ civil nights in violation
of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in that it allegedly violated Plaintiffs’ rights to
due process of law and equa! protection of the laws. Plaintiffs’
further allege that these alleged joint conspiratorial actions also
violate 42 U.S.C. § 1985. Plaintiffs further seek their attorneys’
fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 for their efforts in seeking a
declaration that the Ordinance is invalid and an injunction
prospectively prohibiting its enforcement in the unincorporated area
of Wichita County.
A-7
B. Plaintiffs’ Contentions Regarding the
Constitutionality of AICUZ Regulations
Plaintiffs also contend that Congress has not delegated any
authority to DoD to promulgate the AICUZ Regulations or to adopt
an AICUZ program. In the fourth cause of action, Plaintiffs allege
that the AICUZ Regulations are an unconstitutional invasion of
Congress’ legislative powers.
Plaintiffs also contend that DoD, its departments and air
installations have authority to purchase or condemn property rights
which are necessary for maintenance and operation of the DoD’s
military air installations. Plaintiffs allege that DoD has no authority
to evade the requirements that it obtain needed property rights via
purchase or eminent domain. In the fifth cause of action, Plaintiffs
allege that the AICUZ Regulations are ultra vires and
unconstitutional because they require DoD, its departments, and its
air installations to evade the requirement that property rights needed
by the United States be condemned and just compensation paid.
In addition, Plaintiffs contend the AICUZ Regulations require
United States military air installations to seek the destruction of
private property rights which the United States would never
condemn. Thus, in the sixth cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that the
AICUZ Regulations are ultra vires, arbitrary, and capricious.
Finally, to the extent that the AICUZ Regulations mandate that an
air installation must attempt to cause the enactment ofa zoning
ordinance to implement an AICUZ Study in an area in which there
isno comprehensive zoning, Plaintiffs contend, in the seventh cause
of action, that the AICUZ Regulations are unconstitutional in the
Extraterritorial Area because they allegedly attempt to cause the
creation of unconstitutional zoning.
A-8
SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Summary judgment is appropriate when, viewing the
evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, the
summary judgment record demonstrates that no genuine issue of
material fact exists, and therefore, the moving party is entitled to
judgment as a matter of law. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
317, 322-24 (1986). Once the movant has met its burden, the
burden shifts to the nonmovant te establish with significant probative
evidence that a material issue of fact exists. Kansa Reinsurance
Co., Ltd. v. Congressional Mortgage Corp. of Tex., 20 F.3d
1362, 1371(S5th Cir. 1994). A dispute about a material fact is
genuine “if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return
a verdict for the nonmoving party.” Anderson v. Liberty Lobby,
Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986). The nonmovant may not rest
upon the pleadings but must identify specific facts that establish a
genuine issue exists for trial. Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d
1069, 1075 (Sth Cir. 1994). The nonmovant “must do more than
simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material
facts.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475
U.S. 574, 586 (1986).
In this case, all parties agree that there are no genuine issues
of material fact existing and that this case should be decided by the
Court on summary judgment.
DISCUSSION
A. Summary Judgment is Granted on
Plaintiffs’ Fi of Acti
In their first cause of action, Plaintiffs contend that the
Ordinance was not adopted in accordance with a comprehensive
A-9
plan allegedly causing the Ordinance to be unconstitutional on its
face insofar as it attempts to regulate the use of property in the
Extraterritorial Area in violation of the due process and equal
protection clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the
United States Constitution and the Texas State Constitution.‘
However, due to the existence of a Texas statute’ which does not
require the City to have a comprehensive plan to enact
extraterritorial airport zoning around Sheppard, summary judgment
is granted against Plaintiffs’ on Plaintiffs’ first cause of action.
While Texas Local Government Code § 211.004 does
require municipalities (such as the City) to have a “comprehensive
plan” for their general zoning, the Texas legislature chose different
requirements when it enacted the airport zoning statute, Texas Local
Government Code § 241.001, et seg. The most relevant section
for purposes of this case, Section 241.015, specifically refers to
comprehensive zoning ordinances but does not require
incorporation of airport zoning regulations into a municipality’s
comprehensive plan. This is evident from the pertinent language of
Section 241.015, which states:
“A political subdivision may incorporate an airport zoning
4. Although Plaintiffs have made due process and equal protection claims
under both the Texas and the United States Constitutions, the analysis of
those claims is the same. See Reid v. Rolling Fork Public Utility Dist., 979
F.2d 1084, 1089 (Sth Cir. 1992) (equal protection); Garza-Vale v. Kwiecien,
796 S.W.2d 500, 505 (Tex. App. - San Antonio 1990, writ denied) (due
process). As explained later in this Memorandum Opinion and Order,
summary judgment is GRANTED against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ due process
and equal protection claims.
5. Plaintiffs state in footnote 2 to their February 16, 1999 Memorandum of
Law in Opposition to City of Wichita Falls’ Motion for Summary Judgment
that they are not challenging the constitutionality of any Texas state statute.
A-10
regulation in a comprehensive zoning ordinance and
administer and enforce it in connection with the
administration and enforcement of the comprehensive
zoning ordinance if: (1) the two zoning regulations apply, in
whole or in part, to the same area; and (2) the
comprehensive zoning ordinance includes, among other
matters, a regulation on the height of buildings.” (Emphasis
added).
The Court concludes that had the Texas Legislature intended for
airport zoning regulations to be mandatorily required to be
incorporated into a comprehensive zoning ordinance, the Legislature
would have used the word “shall” instead of “may.” By using the
word “may,” an option was given to so incorporate in certain
circumstances if the municipality so chooses (as opposed to a
requirement being mandated).° In other words, if the Legislature
had intended a comprehensive plan to be a requirement for airport
zoning, it would have identified such a requirement in the statute
(Section 241.015), which it did not do. Therefore, the fact that the
Ordinance was not adopted in accordance with a comprehensive
6. The Court also notes that Section 241.013 of the Texas Local Government
Code specifically extends the extraterritorial jurisdiction of municipalities
(such as the City), giving municipalities (such as the City) authority to
extraterritorially zone certain areas near airports which are outside the
political subdivision.
Sa a en ilo ale ae gaan
A-11
plan does not render the Ordinance to be unconstitutional.’
Summary judgment is GRANTED against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ first
cause of action.
B. Summary Judgment is Granted on
Plaintiffs’ Second Cause of Action
Plaintiffs contend that the Ordinance was enacted for the
purpose of granting valuable property rights to the United States
which allegedly it could obtain directly and unilaterally only via
condemnation. In their second cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that
the Ordinance was not enacted for a legitimate police power
purpose, but to eliminate the need for the United States to condemn
such nghts, which Plaintiffs contend is not a legitimate police power
purpose and therefore violates the due process rights protected by
the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States
Constitution, as well as the Texas State Constitution. However,
because the Court concludes that the Ordinance was enacted for a
legitimate police power purpose and there was no violation of due
process, summary judgment is GRANTED against Plaintiffs on
Plaintiffs’ second cause of action.
The Fifth Circuit has “long insisted that review of municipal
zoning is within the domain of the states, the business of their own
7. The Court is similarly unpersuaded by Plaintiffs’ argument that by virtue
of the fact that the Ordinance was incorporated into the City’s general
zoning ordinance, the Ordinance must now somehow be accomplished in
accordance with the comprehensive plan requirements for general zoning.
This simple book-keeping decision to list the Ordinance within the general
zoning ordinance was no doubt so as to allow the citizenry the ability to
logically locate the Ordinance more easily. In essence, it was an indexing
issue. The inescapable conclusion remains that under Section 241.015, the
Ordinance is not unconstitutional on its face because it was not adopted in
accordance with a comprehensive plan.
A-12
legislatures, agencies, and judiciaries, and should seldom be the
concer of federal courts.’” FM Properties Operating Co. v. City
of Austin, 93 F.3d 167, 173-74 (5" Cir. 1996), citing Shelton v.
City of College Station, 780 F.2d 475, 477 (5 Cir. 1986) (en
banc), certs. denied, 477 U.S. 905 and 479 U.S. 822 (1986).
“Nonetheless, when challenges to such land-use decisions aspire to
constitutional stature, we view those decisions as “quasi-legislative’
in nature, and thus sustainable against a substantive due process
challenge if there exists therefor ‘any conceivable rational basis.’
(Citations omitted). In other words, such government action
comports with substantive due process if the action is rationally
related to a legitimate government interest.”” FM Properties, 93
F.3d at 174 (citations omitted). “Onlyifsuch government action is
‘clearly arbitrary and unreasonable, having no substantial relation to
the public health, safety, morals, or general welfare,’ may it be
declared unconstitutional.” Jd.
When legislation (such as a zoning ordinance) is challenged,
whether on due process or equal protection grounds, it is presumed
to be valid. Goldblatt v. Town of Hempstead, N. Y., 369 U.S.
590, 594 (1962) (due process); City of Cleburne, Tex. v.
Cleburne Living Center, 473 U.S. 432, 440 (1985) (equal
protection); See also Schafer v. City of New Orleans, 743 F.2d
1086, 1089 (5" Cir. 1984) (“Zoning ordinances and similar
regulations on the use of property are presumed valid’’). Moreover,
the City Council’s legislative findings with respect to the Ordinance
are cloaked with a presumption of validity and are to be given much
deference. FM Properties, 93 F.3d at 175. That deference is so
substantial that for Plaintiffs to successfully challenge this legislative
judgment, Plaintiffs “must convince the court that the legislative facts
on which [the Ordinance] is apparently based could not reasonably
be conceived to be true by the governmental decisionmaker.” Jd. ;
See also Shelton, 780 F.2d at 479 (due process claim); Vance v.
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Bradley, 440 U.S. 93, 110-111(1979) (equal protection claim).
The true purpose of the Ordinance “(i.e., the actual purpose that
may have motivated its proponents, assuming this can be known) is
irrelevant for rational basis analysis. The question is only whether
a rational relationship exists between [the Ordinance] and a
conceivable legitimate governmental objective.” FM Properties,
93 F. 3d at 174-75 (emphasis original). Even where it is contended
that the purported rational basis for enacting an ordinance is merely
a pretext to mask arbitrary and capricious action, if it is “at least
debatable” that the ordinance has any rational basis, summary
judgment is proper. Texas Manufactured Housing Association,
Inc. v. City of Nederland, 101 F.3d 1095, 1106 (5" Cir. 1996),
cert. denied, 521 U.S. 1112 (1997); Shelton, 780 F.2d at 483.
Thus, the relevant inquiry for Plaintiffs’ substantive due process
challenge is whether there is a rational basis for the City’s enactment
and enforcement of the Ordinance.* Nederland, 101 F.3d at 1106;
Shelton, 780 F.2d at 482 (“We hold that the outside limit upon a
state’s exercise of its police power in zoning decisions is that they
must have a rational basis”); Schaffer, 743 F.2d at 1089 (“The due
process clause, in its substantive sense, requires only that the
regulation be reasonably related to a valid governmental purpose”).
The Court concludes that the enactment of the Ordinance
was a proper exercise of the police power and was rationally
related to a legitimate governmental objective -- to protect the lives
and property of the users of the airport at Sheppard, to protect the
lives and property of the occupants of the land in the vicinity of the
8. As stated in footnote 4 above, the analysis of Plaintiffs’ due process
claim under the Texas and United States Constitutions is the same.
A-14
airport at Sheppard,’ and to preserve Sheppard as a viable social
and economic resource for the City. Thus, it is clear that there
exists a rational basis for the City’s enactment of the Ordinance and
it is clear that the Ordinance is reasonably related to a valid
governmental purpose. Moreover, when enacting the Ordinance,
the City Council found thatthe Ordinance would help to “protect
the health, safety and general welfare of those living or working on
or around Sheppard Air Force Base” and would “preserve
Sheppard Air Force Base as a viable social and economic resource
for the City and the North Central Texas area.” Given the great
deference that is given to these legislative findings of the City
Council, Plaintiffs have failed to convince the Court “that the
legislative facts on which [the Ordinance] is apparently based could
not reasonably be conceived to be true by the governmental
decisionmaker.” FM Properties, 93 F.3d at 175. Therefore,
Plaintiffs’ pretext argument fails. Summary judgment is GRANTED
against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ second cause of action.
CG. Summary Judgment is Granted on
Plaintiffs’ Third C F Acti
Plaintiffs contend that the AICUZ Regulations require
officials and employees of the United States to cause AICUZ
Studies to be implemented by enactment of zoning ordinances
pursuant to zoning powers granted to units of local government
9. The Texas Legislature has similarly recognized the dangers of airport
hazards and the legitimate issues of public safety surrounding airport
hazards. See Texas Local Government Code § 241.002. Because of these
hazards, and in the interest of the public health, public safety, and general
welfare, the Texas Legislature authorized political subdivisions to utilize the
police power to prevent the creation of these hazards. Jd. The Legislature
also granted certain political subdivisions those powers set forth in Texas
Local Government Code § 241.013.
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under color of state law. Plaintiffs contend that officials and
employees of Sheppard joined with the City to create the Ordinance
and cause its enactment under zoning powers granted to the City
under state law. In the third cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that the
adoption of the Ordinance violated Plaintiffs’ civil rights inviolation
of 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in that it allegedly violated Plaintiffs’ rights to
due process of law and equal protection of the laws. Plaintiffs’
further allege that these alleged joint conspiratorial actions also
violate 42 U.S.C. § 1985. Plaintiffs further seek their attorneys’
fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 for their efforts in seeking a
declaration that the Ordinance is invalid and an injunction
prospectively prohibiting its enforcement in the unincorporated area
of Wichita County.
“Section 1983 affords a private cause of action to any party
deprived of a constitutional right under color of state law.”
Nederland, 101 F.3d at 1106. In the absence of a valid
constitutional claim, summary judgment is appropriate on § 1983
Claims. Jd.
The relevant inquiry for Plaintiffs’ substantive due process
challenge is whether there is a rational basis for the City’s enactment
and enforcement of the Ordinance. Nederland, 101 F.3d at 1106;
Shelton, 780 F.2d at 842 (“We hold that the outside limit upon a
State’s exercise of its police power in zoning decisions is that they
must have a rational basis”); Schaffer, 743 F.2d at 1089 (“The due
process clause, in its substantive sense, requires only that the
regulation be reasonably related to a valid governmental purpose”).
As for Plaintiffs’ equal protection claim, this claim is “subject to the
reasonable basis test, i.c., the decision of a governmental body does
not violate the equal protection guarantees if there is any basis for
the action that bears a debatably rational relationship to a
conceivable legitimate governmental end.” Reid, 979 F.2d at 1087.
A-16
Stated another way, an equal protection claim in the context of this
case requires only rationality review, which, in the context of this
case, requires merely that the classification drawn by the statute be
rationally related to a legitimate state interest. Nederland, 101 F.3d
at 1106; Reid, 979 F.2d at 1084 n. 11 (“The state standard
parallels the federal standard when it states that any rational basis
that can be conceived to support the legislative action under review
will satisfy constitutional muster’). As stated above, the City was
not required by law’ to incorporate the Ordinance within its
comprehensive plan, and the enactment of the Ordinance was a
proper exercise of the police power and was rationally related to a
legitimate governmental objective to protect the lives and property
of the users of the airport at Sheppard, to protect the lives and
property of the occupants of the land in the vicinity of the airport at
Sheppard,'' and to preserve Sheppard as a viable social and
economic resource for the City. Thus, it is clear that there exists a
rational basis for the City’s enactment of the Ordinance and it is
clear that the Ordinance is reasonably related to a valid
governmental purpose. It is also clear that there is a basis for the
action that bears a debatably rational relationship to a conceivable
legitimate governmental end. In conclusion, the Court holds that
Plaintiffs have not suffered a violation of their due process rights or
their equal protection rights'*and their § 1983 claim therefore fails
because there is an absence of a valid constitutional claim.
Nederland, 101 F.3d at 1106. Summary Judgment is GRANTED
against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ § 1983 claim.
10. Texas Local Government Code, §241.015.
11. See footnote 9 above.
12. See footnote 4 above.
A-17
As for Plaintiffs’ claim under 42 U.S.C. §1985(3)"°, to state
a claim under § 1985(3), a complaint must allege:
“(1) a conspiracy of two or more persons; (2) for the
purpose of depriving, either directly or indirectly, any
person or class of persons equal protection of the laws, or
of equal privileges and immunities under the laws; and (3)
an act in furtherance of the conspiracy; (4) whereby a
person is either injured in his person or property or
deprived of any right or privilege of acitizen of the United
States.”
Word of Faith World Outreach Center Church, Inc. y. Sawyer,
90 F.3d 118, 124 (5" Cir. 1996), cert. denied, 520 U.S. 1117
(1997). Of course, “[e]ssential to the claim, however, is that the
conspiracy be motivated by racial animus.” Jd. As Plaintiffs have
not made any claim of racial animus, and as Plaintiffs have not
satisfied the second element in that there is no deprivation of equal
protection as set forth above, summary judgment is GRANTED
against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ § 1985(3) claim. Summary judgment
is also GRANTED against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ claim for
attorneys’ fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1988 since summary judgment
has been granted against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ § 1983 and §
1985(3) claims.
D. Summary Judgment is Granted on
Plaintiffs’ Fourth Cause of Action
Plaintiffs contend that Congress has not delegated any
authority to the DoD to promulgate the AICUZ Regulations or to
13. Sub-parts (1) and (2) of § 1985 are not raised or implicated by Plaintiffs’
allegations.
A-18
adopt an AICUZ program. In the fourth cause of action, Plaintiffs
allege that the AICUZ Regulations are an unconstitutional invasion
of Congress’ legislative powers.
The Court has considered this claim and considers it to be
wholly without merit. As a preliminary matter, the AICUZ
Regulations cite the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, 61
Stat. 495 as their authority. More to the point, however, the Court
agrees with the Federal Defendants’ contention that it is
disingenuous to contend that every single regulation or act, by an
agency, must be specifically delineated by Congress. All that is
required is that the agency have broad discretion to carry out its
mission. Agencies (such as the DoD) possess, for the most part,
broad discretion in carrying out their declared goals, and Congress
has neither the time, nor the expertise, to micro-manage the day-to-
day operations of the United States Air Force. It is also well
established that agencies (such as the DoD) can promulgate rules or
regulations in furtherance of their mission. The Court concludes that
the AICUZ Regulations are not an unconstitutional invasion of
Congress’ legislative powers and summary judgment is GRANTED
against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ fourth cause of action.
E. Summary Judgment is Granted on
Plaintiffs’ Fifth and Sixth C F Acti
Plaintiffs contend that DoD, its departments and air
installations have authority to purchase or condemn property rights
which are necessary for maintenance and operation of the DoD’s
military air installations. Plaintiffs allege that DoD has no authority
to evade the requirements that it obtain needed property rights via
purchase or eminent domain. In the fifth cause of action, Plaintiffs
allege that the AICUZ Regulations are ultra vires and
unconstitutional because they require DoD, its departments, and its
A-19
air installations to evade the requirement that property rights needed
by the United States be condemned and just compensation paid. In
addition, Plaintiffs contend the AICUZ Regulations require United
States military air installations to seek the destruction of private
property rights which the United States would never condemn.
Thus, in the sixth cause of action, Plaintiffs allege that the AICUZ
Regulations are ultra vires, arbitrary, and capricious.
The Court has considered these claims and considers them
to be wholly without merit. Summary judgment must be granted on
both of these causes of action. As much as Plaintiffs do not want to
recognize this fact, AICUZ studies are planning efforts. They do not
control or regulate the use of private lands, and the determination to
permit or restrict development or use of private lands is left to the
local jurisdiction. See Stephens v. United States, 11 Cl. Ct. 352,
363 (1986) (AICUZ studies are “advisory only” and “the
determination to build is ultimately left to the local jurisdiction”);
Blue v. United States, 21 Cl. Ct. 359, 362 (1990) (“AICUZ
studies are for advisory purposes only. The authority to permit or
restrict development or use of private lands is left to the local
jurisdiction”); Branning v. United States, 228 Ct. Cl. 240, 654
F.2d 88, 95 (1981), aff'd, 784 F.2d 361 (Fed. Cir. 1986) (“The
AICUZ is aconcept of identifying compatible and incompatible land
use around an air station, the purpose being to guide compatible
private development through the cooperation with local
jurisdictions...”). Second, the United States (and its Air Force), like
any other citizen or landowner, has the right to request local
governments to make zoning changes. Therefore, it can participate
in local land use proceedings like any other landowner or citizen
who attempts to persuade the local legislative body to regulate land
use in a manner which is consistent with his use of the land. Blue,
21 Cl. Ct. at 362; De-Tom Enterprises, Inc. v United States, 213
Ct. Cl. 362, 552 F.2d 337, 339-40 (1977). Thus, as has been
A-20
thoroughly chronicled above, there is nothing wrong with the United
States (and its Air Force) requesting zoning changes from the City
through its AICUZ program. The fact that it does request such
changes does not magically transform the requests into
unconstitutional actions. Moreover, since the authority to permit or
restrict development or use of private land is left to the local
jurisdiction, the Court rejects Plaintiffs’ argument that the Federal
Defendants are “‘co-zoners” with the City. Thus, to summarize, the
Court holds that (1) the United States (and its Air Force), like any
other citizen and landowner, has the right to request local
governments to make zoning changes; (2) the fact that these
requests criginated with recommendations in an AICUZ study does
not render the act of making them unconstitutional; (3) the fact that
the power to condemn private property, subject to Congressional
approval and the payment of just compensation, is a power inherent
in the sovereign, does not make the act of requesting zoning changes
unconstitutional, arbitrary, or capricious; and (4) the AICUZ
Regulations do not carry with them any power to compel a local
government to enact such zoning changes (thereby mandating
rejection of Plaintiffs’ co-zoner argument). For the above reasons,
summary judgment must be GRANTED against Plaintiffs on
Plaintiffs’ fifth and sixth causes of action.
F. Summary Judgment is Granted on
Plaintiffs’ Seventh Causes of Action
Plaintiffs contend in their seventh cause of action that to the
extent that the AICUZ Regulations mandate that an air installation
must attempt to cause the enactment of a zoning ordinance to
implement an AICUZ Study in an area in which there is no
comprehensive zoning, the AICUZ Regulations are unconstitutional
in the Extraterritorial Area because they allegedly attempt to cause
the creation of unconstitutional zoning. Stated more succinctly, “[b]y
A-21
causing zoning that is not in accordance with a comprehensive plan,
the AICUZ Regulations are unconstitutional as applied to
Plaintiffs.”'* Of course, as discussed above, the Ordinance was not
unconstitutional due to the fact that it was not adopted in
accordance with a comprehensive plan. Accordingly, summary
Judgment is GRANTED against Plaintiffs on Plaintiffs’ seventh cause
of action.
CONCLUSION
For the reasons discussed above, the City of Wichita Falls’
Motion for Summary Judgment and the United States’ Motion for
Summary Judgment are both GRANTED and this case is hereby
DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE. Therefore, the City of Wichita
Falls’ Motion to Dismiss, filed J anuary 27, 1999, is DENIED AS
MOOT. Similarly, the Federal Defendants’ Motion to Compel
Answers to Interrogatories and Responses to Requests for
Production of Documents and to Deem Admissions Admitted, filed
December 17, 1998, is DENIED AS MOOT.
SO ORDERED this 1st day of September, 1999.
Joe Kendall
USS. District Judge
14. See page 15 of Plaintiffs’ February 18, 1999 Memorandum of Law In
Opposition to the United States’ Motion for Summary Judgment.
A-22
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
WICHITA FALLS DIVISION
CHESTER COX, JR.., et al,
Plaintiffs,
VS. No. 7:96-CV-145-X
§
§
§
§
§
§
CITY OF WICHITA §
FALLS, TEXAS, A Texas §
Incorporated Municipality, §
et al, §
§
§
Defendants.
JUDGMENT
By aseparate Memorandum Opinion and Order filed today,
itis ORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that Plaintiffs take
nothing against Defendants herein. Therefore, all of Plaintiffs’ claims
against all Defendants herein are DISMISSED WITH
PREJUDICE.
SO ORDERED this 1“ day of September, 1999.
Joe Kendall
US. District Judge
A-23
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
WICHITA FALLS DIVISION
CHESTER COX, JR., et al,
Plaintiffs,
§
§
§
§
Vs. § No. 7:96-CV-145-X
§
CITY OF WICHITA §
FALLS, TEXAS, A Texas §
Incorporated Municipality, §
et al, 8
§
§
Defendants.
ORDER
Plaintiffs’ Motion for Relief from Judgment, for Leave to
Amend the Complaint, and to add the State of Texas as a Party,
filed on November 2, 1999, is hereby DENIED.
It is so ORDERED.
JOE KENDALL
UNITED STATES
DISTRICT JUDGE
Signed on July 14, 2000.
A-24
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
SUBTITLE A--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
SUBCHAPTER M--MISCELLANEOUS
PART 256
AIR INSTALLATIONS COMPATIBLE USE ZONES
Sec.
256.1 Purpose.
256.2 Applicability.
256.3 Criteria.
256.4 Policy.
256.5 The air installation compatible use program.
256.6 Runway classification by aircraft type.
256.7 Accident potential zone guidelines.
256.8 Land use compatibility guidelines for accident
potential.
256.9 Real estate interests to be considered for clear zones
and accident potential zone.
256.10 Air installations compatible use zone noise descriptors.
256.11 Effective date and implementation.
AUTHORITY: National Security Act of 1947, as amended, 61
Stat. 495. 7
SOURCE: 42 FR 773, Jan. 4, 1977, unless otherwise noted.
§ 256.1 Purpose.
This part: (a) Sets forth Department of Defense policy on
achieving compatible use of public and private lands in the vicinity
of military airfields; (b) defines (1) required restrictions on the uses
and heights of natural and man-made objects in the vicinity of air
installations to provide for safety of flight and to assure that people
bh Dak FCN aw SHG SIME DA aE Rested AE IN SO baile vedere ie ty
VOTRE EE We Sea Gel, FL RR Sa lnc ca Poop np ab cpanel NNR A a tem cl
‘4 SAE uoainy
A-25
and facilities are not concentrated in areas susceptible to aircraft
accidents; and (2) desirable restrictions on land use to assure its
compatibility with the characteristics, including noise, of air
installations operations; (c) describes the procedures by which Air
Installations Compatible Use Zones (AICUZ) may be defined; and
(d) provides policy on the extent of Government interest in real
property within these zones which may be retained or acquired to
protect the operational capability of active military airfields (subject
in each case to the availability of required authorizations and
appropriations).
§ 256.2 Applicability.
This part applies to air installations of the Military Departments
located within the United States, its territories, trusts, and
possessions.
§ 256.3 Criteria.
(a) General. The Air Installations Compatible Use Zone for each
military air installation shall consist of (1) land areas upon which
certain uses may obstruct the airspace or otherwise be hazardous
to aircraft operations, and (2) land areas which are exposed to the
health, safety or welfare hazards of aircraft operations.
(b) Height of obstructions. The land area and height standards
defined in AFM 86-8,' NavFac P-272 and P-80,' and TM 5-803-
4' will be used for purposes of height restriction criteria.
(c) Accident potential--
(1) General.
(i) Areas immediately beyond the ends of runways and
1. Filed as part of original. Copies available in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics) - ID, Washington, D.C.
20301.
A-26
along primary flight paths are subject to more aircraft accidents than
other areas. For this reason, these areas should remain
undeveloped, or if developed should be only sparsely developed in
order to limit, as much as possible, the adverse effects of a possible
aircraft accident.
(ii) DOD fixed wing runways are separated into two types
for the purpose of defining accident potential areas. Class A
runways are those restricted to light aircraft (See § 256.6) and
which do not have the potential for development for heavy or high
performance aircraft use or for which no foreseeable requirement
for such use exists. Typically these runways have less than 10% of
their operations involving Class B aircraft (§ 256.6) and are less
than 8000 feet long. Class B runways are all other fixed wing
runways.
(iii) The following descriptions of Accident Potential Zones
are guidelines only. Their strict application would result in increasing
the safety of the general public but would not provide complete
protection against the effects of aircraft accidents. Such a degree
of protection is probably impossible to achieve. Local situations
may differ significantly from the assumptions and data upon which
these guidelines are based and require individual study. Where it is
desirable to restrict the density of development ofan area, it is not
usually possible to state that one density is safe and another is not.
Safety is a relative term and the objective should be the realization
of the greatest degree of safety that can be reasonably attained.
(2) Accident potential and clear zones (See § 256.7).
(i) The area immediately beyond the end ofa runway is the
"Clear Zone", an area which possesses a high potential for
accidents, and has traditionally been acquired by the Government
in fee and kept clear of obstructions to flight.
A-27
(ii) Accident Potential Zone I (APZ I) is the area beyond
the clear zone which possesses a significant potential for accidents.
(iii) Accident Potential Zone I (APZ II) is an area beyond
APZ I having a measurable potential for accidents.
(iv) Modifications to APZs I and II will be considered if:
(A) The runway is infrequently used.
(B) The prevailing wind conditions are such that a large
percentage (i.e., over 80 percent) of the operations are in one
direction.
(C) Most aircraft do not overfly the APZs as defined
herein during normal flight operations (modifications may be made
to alter these zones and adjust them to conform to the line of flight).
(D) Local accident history indicates consideration
of different areas. :
(E) Other unusual conditions exist.
(v) The takeoff safety zone for VFR rotary-wing facilities
will be used for the clear zone; the remainder of the approach-
departure zone will be used as APZ L
(vi) Land use compatibility with clear zones and APZs is
shown in § 256.8.
(d) Noise—
(1) General. Noise exposure is described in various ways. In
1964, the Department of Defense began using the Composite Noise
Rating (CNR) system to describe aircraft noise. Several years ago
the Noise Exposure Forecast (NEF) system began to replace CNR.
In August 1974, the Environment Protection Agency notified all
Federal agencies of intent to implement the Day-Night Average
Sound Level (Ldn) noise descriptor, and this was subsequently
A-28
adopted by the DOD. This Ldn system will be used for air
installations. Where AICUZ studies have been published using the
CNR of NEF systems or where studies have progressed to the
point that a change in the descriptor system is impractical or
uneconomical, such studies may be published and continued in use.
However, in such cases, data necessary for conversion to Ldn
should be collected and studies should be revised as soon as time
and budgetary considerations permit. However, if State or local
laws require some other noise descriptor, it may be used in lieu of
Ldn.
(2) Noise Zones.
(i) As aminimum, contours for Ldn 65, 70, 75 and 80 shall
be plotted on maps as part of AICUZ studies.
(ii) See § 256.10 for a further discussion of Ldn use and
conversion to Ldn from previously used systems.
§ 256.4 Policy.
(a) General. Asa first priority step, all reasonable, economical,
and practical measures will be taken to reduce and/or control the
generation of noise from flying and flying related activities. Typical
measures normally include siting of engine test and runup facilities in
remote areas if practical, provision of sound suppression equipment
where necessary, and may include additional measures such as
adjustment of traffic pattems to avoid built-up areas where such can
be accomplished with safety and without significant impairment of
operational effectiveness. After all reasonable noise source control
measures have been taken, there will usually remain significant land
areas wherein the total noise exposure is such as to be incompatible
with certain uses.
A-29
(b) Compatible use land--
(1) General.
(1) DOD policy is to work toward achieving compatibility
between air installations and neighboring civilian communities by
means of a compatible land use planning and control process
conducted by the local community.
(ii) Land use compatibility guidelines will be specified for
each Clear Zone, Accident Potential Zone, Noise Zone and
combination of these as appropriate.
(iii) The method of control and regulation of land usage
within each zone will vary according to local conditions. In all
instances the primary objective will be to identify planning areas and
reasonable land use guidelines which will be recommended to
appropriate agencies who are in control of the planning functions for
the affected areas.
(2) Property rights acquisition--
(i) General. While noise generated by aircraft at military air
installations should be an integral element of land use compatibility
efforts, the acquisition of property rights on the basis of noise by the
Department of Defense may not be in the long term best interests of
the United States. Therefore, while the complete requirement for
individual installations should be defined prior to any programming
actions, acquisition of interests should be programmed in
accordance with the following priorities.
(ii) Priorities.
(A) The first priority is the acquisition in fee and/or
appropriate restrictive easements of lands within the clear zones
whenever practicable.
A-30
(B) Outside the clear zone, program for the acquisition
of interests, first in Accident Potential Zones and secondly in high
noise areas only when all possibilities of achieving compatible use
zoning, or similar protection, have been exhausted and the
operational integrity of the air installation is manifestly threatened.
If programming actions are considered necessary, complete records
ofall discussions, negotiations, testimony, etc., with or before all
local officials, boards, etc., must be maintained. This will ensure
that documentation is available to indicate that all reasonable and
prudent efforts were made to preclude incompatible land use
through cooperation with local governmental officials and that all
recourse to such action has been exhausted. Such records shall
accompany programming actions and/or apportionment requests for
items programmed prior to the date of this part. In addition, a
complete economic analysis and assessment of the future of the
installation must be included.
(1) Costs of establishing and maintaining compatible use zones
must be weighed against other available options, such as changing
the installation's mission and relocating the flying activities, closing
the installation, or such other courses of action as may be available.
In performing analyses of this type, exceptional care must be
exercised to assure that a decision to change or relocate a mission
is fully justified and that all aspects of the situation have been
thoroughly considered.
(2) When, as a result of such analysis, it is determined that
relocation or abandonment ofa mission will be required, then no
new construction shall be undertaken in support of such activities
except as is absolutely necessary to maintain safety and operational
readiness pending accomplishment of the changes required.
(iii) Guidelines. This part shall not be used as sole
A-31
justification for either the acquisition or the retention of owned
interests beyond the minimum required to protect the Government.
(A) Necessary rights to land within the defined compatible
use area may be obtained by purchase, exchange, or donation, in
accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
(B) If fee title is currently held or subsequently acquired
in an area where compatible uses could be developed and no
requirement for a fee interest in the land exists except to prevent
incompatible use, disposal actions shall normally be instituted. Only
those rights and interests necessary to establish and maintain
compatible uses shall be retained. Where proceeds from disposal
would be inconsequential, consideration may be given to retaining
title.
(C) Ifthe cost of acquiring a required interest approaches
closely the cost of fee title, consideration shall be given to whether
acquisition of fee title would be to the advantage of the Government.
(c) Rights and interests which may be obtained. When it is
determined to be necessary for the Federal Government to acquire
interests in land, acareful assessment of the type of interest to be
acquired is mandatory. § 256.9 contains a listing of possible
interests which should be examined for applicability.
(d) Environmental impact statements.
(1) Any actions taken with respect to safety of flight,
accident hazard, or noise which involve acquisition of interests in
land must be examined to determine the necessity of preparing an
environmental impact statement in accordance with DOD Directive
6050.1, "Environmental Considerations in DOD Actions," March
19, 1974 (32 CFR Part 214).
A-32
(2) All such environmental impact statements must be forwarded
to appropriate Federal and local agencies for review in accordance
with DOD Directive 6050.1 (32 CFR Part 214).
(3) Coordination with local agencies will be in accordance with
OMB Circular A-95.
§ 256.5 The air installation compatible use program.
(a) The Secretaries of the Military Departments will develop,
implement and maintain a program to investigate and study all air
installations in necessary order of priority to develop an Air
Installation Compatible Use Zone (AICUZ) program for each air
installation consistent with § 256.4. AICUZ studies which contain
an analysis of land use compatibility problems and potential solutions
shall be developed and updated as necessary. As aminimum, each
Study shall include the following:
(1) Determination by detailed study of flight operations, actual
noise and safety surveys ifnecessary, and best available projections
of future flying activities, desirable restrictions on land use due to
noise characteristics and safety of flight;
(2) Identification of present incompatible land uses;
(3) Identification ofland that if mappropriately developed would
be incompatible;
(4) Indication of types of desirable development for various land
tracts;
(5) Land value estimates for the zones in question.
(6) Review of the airfield master plans to ensure that existing and
A-33
future facilities siting is consistent with the policies in this part.
(7) Full consideration of joint use of air installations by activities
of separate Military Departments whenever such use will result in
maintaining operational capabilities while reducing noise, real estate
and construction requirements.
(8) Recommendations for work with local zoning boards,
necessary minimum programs of acquisition, relocations, or such
other actions as are indicated by the results of the Study.
(b) Procedures. In developing AICUZ Studies the Secretaries of
Military Departments shall:
(1) Follow the review and comment procedures established
under OMB Circular A- 95;
(2) Ensure that appropriate environmental factors are
considered; and
(3) Ensure that other local, State or Federal agencies engaged
in land use planning or land regulation for a particular area have an
opportunity to review and comment upon any proposed plan or
significant modification thereof.
(c) Coordination with State and local governments. Secretaries
of the Military Departments shall develop procedures for
coordinating AICUZ Studies with the land use planning and
regulatory agencies in the area. Developing compatible land use
plans may require working with local governments, local planning
commissions, special purpose districts, regional planning agencies,
state agencies, state legislatures, as well as the other Federal
agencies. Technical assistance to local, regional, and state agencies
a
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to assist them in developing their land use planning and regulatory
processes, to explain an AICUZ Study and its implications, and
generally to work toward compatible planning and development in
the vicinity of military airfields, should be provided.
(d) Property rights acquisition. The AICUZ Study shall serve
as the basis for new land acquisitions, property disposal, and other
proposed changes in Military Departments real property holdings in
the vicinity of military airfields where applicable.
(e) Required approvals. Based on the results of the AICUZ
Studies, each Military Department will prepare recommendations
for individual installations AICUZ programs for approval as follows:
(1) The Secretaries of the Military Departments or their
designated representatives will review and approve the AICUZ
Studies establishing the individual air installation AICUZ
program.
(2) When relocation or abandonment of a mission or an
installation is apparently required, the Secretaries of the Military
Departments will submit the proposed plan for the installation, with
appropriate recommendations, to the Secretary of Defense for
approval.
(3) A time-phased fiscal year plan for implementation of the
AICUZ program in priority order, consistent with budgetary
considerations, will be developed for approval by the Secretaries of
the Military Departments, or their designated representatives.
These plans will serve as the basis for all AICUZ actions at the
individual installations.
(f) Coincident actions. The Secretaries of the Military
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Departments will also take action to assure in accordance with §
256.4 (a) and (b) that:
(1) As the first priority action in developing an AICUZ program,
full attention is given to safety and noise problems.
(2) Inall planning, acquisition and siting of noise generating
items, such as engine test stands, full advantage is taken of available
alleviating measures, such as remote sites or sound suppression
equipment.
(3) The noise exposure of on-installation facilities and personnel
are considered together with that off the installation.
(4) There is development or continuation with renewed
emphasis, of programs to inform local governments, citizens groups,
and the general public of the requirements of flying activities, the
reasons therefore, the efforts which may have been made or maybe
taken to reduce noise exposure, and similar matters which will
promote and develop a public awareness of the complexities of air
installation operations, the problems associated therewith, and the
willingness of the Department of Defense to take all measures
possible to alleviate undesirable external effects.
(g) Responsibilities for the acquisition, management and disposal
of real property are defined in DOD Directive 4165.6, "Real
Property; Acquisition, Management and Disposal," September 15,
1955 (20 FR 7113).
(h) The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and
Housing) will examine the program developed pursuant to this Part,
and from time to time review the progress thereunder to assure
conformance with policy.
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§ 256.6 Runway classification by aircraft type.
Class A runways
S-2, VC-6, C-1, C-2, TC-4C, U-i0, U-11, LU-16, TU-16, HU-
16, C-7, C-8, C-12, C- 47, C-117, U-21, QU-22, E-1, E-2, O-1,
U-1, U-3, U-6, U-8, U-9, O-2, OV-1, OV- 10, T-28, T-34, T-
41, T-42.
Class B runways
A-1, A-3, A-4, A-5, A-6, F-106, F-5, F-15, F-18, S-3, C-121,
EC-121, WC-121, C- 123, C-130, A-7, A-38, AV-8, P-2, P-3,
T-29, T-33, T-37, T-39, T-1, HC-130B, C-131, C-140, C-5A,
KC-97, F-9, F-14, F-4, F-8, F-111, T-2, T-38, B-52, B-57, B-
57F, C-124, EC-130E, HC-130, C-135, VC-137, YF-12, SR-
71, F-100, F-101, F- 102, B-66, C-9, C-54, C-97, C-118, C-
141, KC-135, EC-135, RC-135, U-2, F-104, F-105, C-119.
[42 FR 13022, Mar. 8, 1977]
§ 256.7 Accident potential zone guidelines.
Class A Runway - AJl dimensions
in feet
TE cea: Zone APZ I |APZ 111000
Runway
+ 3000 — +-2500-4- 2500-
Class B Runway
T
a -.... eae Ba *
Runway |
-3000- '- 5000 - - 7000 -
Width of clear zone may be based on individual service analysis of highest
accident potential area for specific runway use and varied based on
acquisition constraints. 3000 foot wide clear zone is desirable for new
construction.
v
Da deal Memes 2 Gt Pele k wea nw oi
lin as ik BOs Ri RE el I cd
pide ante
> eh eh
A-37
§ 256.8 Land use compatibility guidelines for accident
potential.
ZONES AND FOOTNOTES-LAND USE CATEGORY
[See footnotes at end of table]
Compatibility’
Clear zone APZI
Residential:
| EERO TD No No
I baie eittinssscecsiens do do
Multifamily dwellings .............. do do
GROUP GUATEES..........0..0.20.s00cc000e0 do do
Residential hotels ..................... do do
Mobile home parks or courts... do do
Other residential ....................... do do
Industrial manufacturing:?
Food and kindred products ....... do do
Textile mill products ................ do do
PE aanttiiinidbenipiersstshisesens do do
Lumber and wood products ...... do Yes
Furniture and fixtures ............... do do
Paper and allied products .......... do do
Printing, publishing ................... do do
Chemicals and allied products... do No
Petroleum refining and related
PN iiiacsandicsstannstonseictnxes do do
Rubber and miscellaneous
RI cichcescthaisanicncensce do do
Stone, clay, and glass products .. do Yes
APZ I
Yes.”
No.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Yes.
Do.
No.
Do.
Do.
Do.
Do.
No.
Do.
Do.
Yes.
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Compatibility!
Clear zone APZI APZIi
Primary metal industries ............ do do Do.
Fabricated metal products ........ do do Do.
Professional, scientific and
controlling instruments........... do No No.
Misc. manufacturing ................ do Yes Yes.
Transportation,
communications and utilities:*
Railroad, rapid rail transit
I cee cesisadecsictcniincsnens Yes Yes* Yes.
Highway and street ROW ........ do Yes Do.
PND GTI voscinssneicsesissanssneien No do Do.
COMIROIIIINE oiiccsncccescsscessens Yes do Do.
II ot ere ea cai eet do Yes‘ Do.
Other transportation,
communications and utilities.. do Yes Do.
Commercial/retail trade:
Wholesale trade ...................0044
Building materials-retail ..........
General merchandise-retail ......
Automotive, marine,
aviation-retail.................::.see
Apparel and accessories-retail...
Furniture, homefurnishing-
TE i scsiciczebloscislaniocenvenimaniees
Eating and drinking places .......
Other retail trade ......................
A-39
Compatibility’
Clear zone APZI APZ I
Personal and business
services:>
Finance, insurance and
TE i iicishaseccaksesscorecrcixontns do do Do.
Personal Service ...............00004 do do Do.
BusSIMesS SETVICES..............0000000 do do Do.
PROPOR GOT VIGEE. 0....ccscicsccsseccscses do Yes Do.
Professional services................. do No Do.
Contract construction services.. do Yes Do.
Indoor recreation services ........ do No Do.
CHEE BUT WIOOD iseiiescnciccansoscsecsass do do Do.
Public and quasi-public services:
) Government Service .............00.. do do Yes.°
Educational services ................ No No No.
| Cultural activities .................... do do Do.
| Medical/other health services... do do Do.
| I viiiccsecisaicnnstiensocsins do Yes® Yes.°
| Nonprofit organization
including churches.................. do No No.
Other public and quasi-public
iia cisttniiisnchentntiteeadecean do do Yes.
Outdoor recreation:
Playground's neighboring parks do do Yes.
Community and regional parks.. do Yes’ Yes.’
A-40
Compatibility’
Clear zone APZI APZII
Water based recreational areas.. do do Do.
Resort and group camps ............ do No No.
Entertainment assembly ............ do do Do.
Other outdoor recreation ........... do Yes’ Yes.
Resource production and
extraction and open land:
Aa vcciicccnsissnnmmasens Yes Yes Do.
Livestock farming, animal
i icciicacnamanen: No do Do.
Forestry activities’?.................. No” Yes Do.
Fishing activities and related
UNNEE™ sscssivcdsinienidiieiemaae No” Yes'* Do.
Mining activities ..................06 No Yes Do.
Permanent open space ............ Yes do Do.
Wet GO wii dics do do Do.
Footnotes.
1.A “Yes” or “No” designation for compatible land use is to be
used only for gross comparison. Within each, uses exist where
further definition may be needed as to whether it is clear or normally
acceptable/unacceptable owing to variations in densities of people
and structures.
2. Suggested maximum density 1-2 DU/AC, possibly increased
under a planned unit development where maximum lot covered less
than 20 percent.
3. Tactics to be considered: Labor intensity, structural
coverage, explosive characteristics, air pollution.
4. No passenger terminals and no major above ground
transmission lines in APZ I.
mot. «Jie Gigt.ih
A-41
5. Low intensity office uses only. Meeting places, auditoriums,
etc., not recommended.
6. Excludes chapels.
7. Facilities must be low intensity.
8. Clubhouse not recommended.
9. Concentrated rings with large classes not recommended.
10. Includes livestock grazing but excludes feedlots and
intensive animal husbandry.
11. Includes feedlots and intensive animal husbandry.
12. No structures (except airfield lighting), buildings or above
ground utility/communication lines should be located in the clear
zone. For further runway safety clearance limitations pertaining to
the clear zone see AFM 86-6 TM 5-803-4 and NAVFAC P-80.
13. Lumber and timber products removed due to
establishment, expansion or maintenance of clear zones will be
disposed of in accordance with DoD Instruction 4170.7, “Natural
Resources-Forest Management,” June 21, 1965 (32 CFR 233) and
DoD Instruction 7310.1, “Accounting and Reporting for Property
Disposal and Proceeds from Sale of Disposable Personal Property
and Lumber or Timber Products,” July 10, 1970.!
14. Includes hunting and fishing.
15. Controlled hunting and fishing may be permitted for the
purpose of wildlife control.
§ 256.9 Real estate interests to be considered for clear
zones and accident potential zone.
(a) The right to make low and frequent flights over said land and
to generate noises associated with:
(1) Aircraft in flight, whether or not while directly over said land,
(2) Aircraft and aircraft engines operating on the ground at said
base, and,
A-42
(3) Aircraft engine test/stand/cell operations at said base.
(b) The right to regulate or prohibit the release into the air of any
substance which would impair the visibility or otherwise interfere
with the operations of aircraft, such as, but not limited to, steam,
dust and smoke.
(c) The right to regulate or prohibit light emissions, either direct or
indirect (reflective), which might interfere with pilot vision.
(d) The right to prohibit electrical emissions which would interfere
with aircraft and aircraft communications systems or aircraft
navigational equipment.
(e) The right to prohibit any use of the land which would
unnecessarily attract birds or waterfowl, such as, but not limited to,
operation of sanitary landfills, maintenance of feeding stations or the
growing of certain types of vegetation attractive to birds or
waterfowl.
(f) The right to prohibit and remove any buildings or other non-
frangible structures.
(g) The right to top, cut to ground level, and to remove trees,
shrubs, brush or other forms of obstruction which the installation
commander determines might interfere with the operation of aircraft,
including emergency landings.
(h) The right of ingress and egress upon, over and across said land
for the purpose of exercising the rights set forth herein.
(i) The right to post signs on said land indicating the nature and
extent of the Government's control over said land.
A-43
(j) The right to prohibit land uses other than the following:
(1) Agriculture.
(2) Livestock grazing.
(3) Permanent open space.
(4) Existing water areas.
(5) Rights of way for fenced two lane highways, without
sidewalks or bicycle trails and single track railroads.
(6) Communications and utilities rights of way, provided all
facilities are at or below grade.
(k) The right to prohibit entry of persons onto the land except in
connection with activities authorized under paragraphs (a), (b), (c),
and (f) of this section.
(1) The right to disapprove land uses not in accordance with §
256.8.
(m) The right to control the height of structures to insure that they
do not become a hazard to flight.
(n) The right to install airfield lighting and navigational aids.
A-44
§ 256.10 Air installations compatible use zone noise
descriptors.
(a) Composite Noise Rating (CNR) and Noise Exposure Forecast
(NEF) values as previously required by Sections IIL, IV., and V.
of DOD Instruction 4165.57, "Air Installations Compatible Use
Zones," July 30, 1973' will no longer be used.
(b) Where CNR 100 (or the quietest boundary of CNR Zone 2 if
otherwise computed) or NEF 30 would previously have been used,
data shall be collected sufficient to permit computation of Ldn 65
noise contours and these noise contours shall be plotted on maps
accompanying AICUZ studies.
(c) Where CNR 115 (or the boundary of CNR Zone 3 if
otherwise computed) or NEF 40 would previously have been used,
data shall be collected sufficient to permit computation of Ldn 75
noise contours and these noise contours shall be plotted on maps
accompanying AICUZ studies.
(d) Where previous st dies have used CNR or NEF, for meters
of policy, noise planning and decisionmaking, areas quieter than Ldn
65 shall be considered approximately equivalent to the previously
used CNR Zone 1 and to areas quieter than NEF 30. The area
between Ldn 65 and Ldn 75 shall be considered approximately
equivalent to the previously used CNR Zone 2 and to the area
between NEF 30 and NEF 40. The area of higher noise than Ldn
75 shall be considered approximately equivalent to the previously
used CNR Zone 3 and to noise higher the NEF 40. The
procedures shall remain in effect only until sufficient data to compute
' Filed as part of original. Copies available in the Office of the Assistant
Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics)-IO, Washington, D.C.
20301.
A-45
land values can be obtained.
(e) When computing helicopter noise levels using data collected
from meters, a correction of +7db shall be added to meter readings
obtained under conditions where blade slap was present until and
unless matters are developed which more accurately reflect true
conditions.
(f) Noise contours less than Ldn 65 or more than Ldn 80 need not
be plotted for AICUZ studies.
(g) Since CNR noise levels are not normally directly convertible to
Ldn values without introducing significant error, care should be
exercised to assure that personnel do not revise previous studies by
erroneously relabeling CNR contours to the approximately
equivalent Ldn values.
(h) Where intermittent impulse noises are such as are associated
with bombing and gunnery ranges are of importance such noises will
be measured using standard "C" weighing of the various frequencies
to insure a description most representative of actual human
response.
§ 256.11 Effective date and implementation.
This part is effective immediately. Two copies of implementing
regulations shall be forwarded to the Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Installations and Logistics) within 90 days after publication of final
rules.
A-46
ORDINANCE NO. 155-94
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, AMENDING ARTICLE 1,
SECTIONS 3-16 THROUGH 3-36 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES IN THEIR ENTIRETY; AMENDING
SECTION 6400 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO
INCLUDE SUCH AMENDMENTS IN THE ZONING
ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR THE APPLICATION AND
ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING CODES AS APPLIED TO
THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS FOR AREAS OUTSIDE THE
CITY LIMITS OF WICHITA FALLS, BUT WITHIN THE 65
DECIBEL CONTOUR OF A NOISE ZONE AS SHOWN IN
THE MOST RECENT AICUZ STUDY FOR SHEPPARD AIR
FORCE BASE; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE;
DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY; AND FINDING
AND DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH
THIS ORDINANCE WAS DISCUSSED WAS OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS, the City Council has accepted a Final Report
from the Airport Zoning Board as required by Chapter 241 of the
Local Government Code; and,
WHEREAS, the adoption of this ordinance helps to protect
the health, safety and general welfare of those living or working on
or around Sheppard Air Force Base; and,
WHEREAS, said Report is in conformance with the intent
of the City of Wichita Falls as a viable social and economic
resource for the City and the North Central Texas area; and,
WHEREAS, amending Article IL, Sections 3-16 through 3-
36 of the Code of Ordinances further accomplishes this intent.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS,
TEXAS THAT:
Section 1. Article II, Sections 3-16 through 3-36 of the
Code of Ordinances is amended in its entirety and hereby included
in the Zoning Ordinance as shown in Attachment “A.”
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Wichita Falls
orders that building codes by (sic) applied and enforced in that area
outside of the City limits, but limited to that area shown within the 65
decibel noise contour as shown in the latest AICUZ study for
Sheppard Air Force Base.
Section 3. All ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed, specifically Ordinance No. 100-82, codified as Chapter
3, Article II of the Code of Ordinances.
Section 4. This ordinance is declared to be an emergency
measure and shall become effective immediately upon its
passage.
Section 5. It is hereby officially found and determined that
the meeting at which this ordinance was passed was open to the
public as required by law.
PASSED and APPROVED this 20th day of December, 1994.
S/ Mayor of the City of Wichita Falls
Attest:
City Clerk
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ATTACHMENT A
6400 AIRPORT ZONING
6405 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Airport Zoning provision is to ensure protection
of the utility of Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal
Airport and the public investment by the regulation of land uses in
the vicinity of Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal
Airport where it has been determined that Sheppard Air Force
Base is an essential part of the City and surrounding cities and
counties.
It is also the purpose of this provision to protect the health, safety,
and general welfare of the public where it is recognized that
obstructions, aircraft accidents, and excessive noise have the
potential for endangering or harming the lives and/or property of
users or occupants of land in the vicinity of Sheppard Air Force
Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport.
6410 APPLICABILITY
Airport Zoning regulations shall apply to all of the incorporated
areas of the City of Wichita Falls and unincorporated areas which
are located within a Accident Potential Zone, Noise Zone or Height
Restriction Zone as described herein. The use of all land and any
buildings or structures located upon the land, and the height,
construction, reconstruction, alteration, expansion or relocation of
any building or structure upon the land shall conform to all
regulations applicable to this section. No land, building, structure or
premise shall be constructed and/or used for any purpose or in any
manner other than is permitted in this section.
The Airport Zoning regulation shall be in accordance with
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prescribed regulations contained in Chapter 241 of the Local
Government Code.
6415 AIRPORT ZONING BOARD
The Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Wichita Falls
shall be responsible for all duttes and powers granted to an Airport
Zoning Board as required by Chapter 241 of the Local Government
Code.
6420 PERMITTED USES
Refer to the Land Use Compatibility Table included herein for
permitted, controlled, and prohibited land uses in accordance with
the latest AICUZ study for Sheppard Air Force Base.
6425 DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this provision, the following definitions shall
apply to the interpretation of Section 6400:
AICUZ - Air Installation Compatible Use Zone.
Accident Potential Zone I(APZ I) - Anareaof accident potential
and noise located beyond the Clear Zone of each runway.
Accident Potential Zone II (APZ II) - An area of accident potential
and noise located beyond APZ I of each runway.
Airport - Means the Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls
Municipal Airport.
Airport Elevation - Means the established elevation of the highest
point on the usable landing area measured in feet from mean sea
level. This elevation has been established at the Sheppard Air Force
Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport as 1,015 feet above mean sea
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level.
Airport Hazard - Means any structure or use of land which
obstructs the airspace required for the flights of aircraft or which
obstructs or interferes with the control or tracking and/or data
acquisition in the landing, taking off or flight at an airport or at any
installation or facility relating to flight and tracking and/or data
acquisition of the flight craft; or which is hazardous, interfering with,
or obstructing such landing, taking off or flight of aircraft; or which
is hazardous to or interferes with tracking and/or data acquisition
pertaining to flight and flight vehicles.
Airport Hazard Area - Means any area of land or water upon which
an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided
herein.
Centerline - means a line extending through the midpoint of each
end of a runway.
Compatible Land Use - Includes any use of land adjacent to an
airport that will protect the owners, occupants or users of the land
from levels of noise or vibrations created by the operations of the
airport, including the taking off and landing of aircraft, that may
endanger the health, safety or welfare of the owners, occupants or
users of the land and protect airport users from airport hazards.
Hazard to Air Navigation - An obstruction determined to have a
substantial adverse effect on the safe and efficient utilization of
navigable airspace.
Height - For the purpose of determining the height limits in all zones
set forth in this provision and shown in the AICUZ study, the datum
shall be mean sea level elevation unless otherwise specified.
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Instrument Runway - Means existing or planned runway(s) of at
least four thousand (4,000) feet for which there is or is planned to
be an instrument landing procedure published by a defense agency
of the federal government or by the Federal Aviation
Administration.
Landing Area - Means the surface area of the airport used for
landing, take-off or taxiing of aircraft.
Nonconforming Use - Any structure or use of land which was
inconsistent with these provisions on October 31, 1982.
Obstruction - Any structure or other object, including a mobile
object, which exceeds a limiting height set forth in this
provision.
Person - Means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation,
company, association, joint stock association or body politic and
includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, administrator, executor,
guardian or other representative.
Primary Surface - These surfaces are set established herein. (The
elevation of any point on the primary surface is the same as the
elevation of the nearest point on the runway centerline.)
Runway - A defined area on an airport prepared for landing and
take-off of aircraft along its length.
Structure - An object, including a mobile object, constructed or
installed by man, including, but not limited to buildings, towers,
cranes, smokestacks, earth formations and overhead transmission
lines.
A-52
6430 ACCIDENT POTENTIAL ZONES
Accident Potential Zones are established within the area of the
Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport for the
purpose of regulating the development of areas which possess an
accident potential hazard so as to promote compatibility between
the airport and the surrounding land uses, protect the airport from
incompatible encroachment, and promote the health, safety and
general welfare of property users.
A. Zone Boundaries. The boundaries of said zones are
established as shown on the map included in the latest AICUZ study
for Sheppard Air Force Base. Accident Potential Zones are located
beyond the Clear Zone at the end of the runways and are:
1. For runway 17/35, Accident Potential Zones I and
II shall be one thousand (1,000) feet wide and two thousand five
hundred (2,500) feet long.
é. For runways 15R/C/L and 33L/C/R, Accident
Potential Zone I(APZ I) shall be three thousand (3,000) feet wide
and five thousand (5,000) feet long; Accident Potential Zone I
(APZ II) shall be three thousand (3,000) feet wide and seven
thousand (7,000) long.
B. Compatible Uses. Compatible uses within each Accident
Potential Zone are established as shown in the latest AICUZ study
for Sheppard Air Force Base. Only compatible uses will be
allowed.
6435 NOISE ZONES
For the purpose of regulating the development of areas which
possess a noise hazard to certain land uses, so as to promote
compatibility between the airport and the surrounding land uses,
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protect the airport from incompatible encroachment, and promote
and protect the health, safety and general welfare of property users,
Noise Zones are established within the area of the Sheppard Air
Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport.
A. Zone Boundaries. The boundaries of said zones are
established as shown on the inap included in the latest AICUZ study
for Sheppard Air Force Base. Noise Zones are located within the
65db or greater noise contour as shown in the latest AICUZ study
for Sheppard Air Force Base:
B. Compatible Uses. Compatible uses within the Noise Zone
are established as shown in the latest AICUZ study for Sheppard
Air Force Base. Only compatible uses will be allowed.
6440 HEIGHT RESTRICTION ZONES
In order to carry out the provisious included herein as it pertains to
height restrictions, there are established certain height restriction
zones which include all of the land lying beneath the Approach-
Departure Clearance Surface, Inner Horizontal Surface, Conical
Surface, Outer Horizontal Surface, and Transitional Surface as they
apply to Sheppard Air Force Base/Wichita Falls Municipal Airport.
Such zones and height restrictions are shown in the most recent
AICUZ study of Sheppard Air Force Base. The various zones are
established and defined as follows:
A. Zones Related to Runways
1. Primary Zone (A Zone). All of the land area lying
beneath a Primary Surface, which is a surface on the ground
centered lengthwise of the runway and extending two hundred (200)
feet beyond each end of that runway. The width of the primary
surfaces are:
A-54
a. For runway 17/35, one thousand (1,000) feet.
b. For runways 15R/33L, 15C/33C, and 15L/33R, two
thousand (2,000) feet.
No structure is permitted within the Primary Zone (A
Zone) as described herein.
2. Clear Zone (B Zone). All of the land area lying
beneath a Clear Zone Surface, which is a surface on the ground
beginning at the runway end and symmetrical with the runway
centerline extended. The width and length of the clear zone surfaces
are:
a. Forrunway 17/35, one thousand (1,000) ‘eet wide and
three thousand (3,000) feet long.
b. Forrunways 15R/33L, 15C/33C, and 151/33R., three
thousand (3.900) feet wide and three thousand (3,00) feet long.
3. Approach-Departure Clearance Zone (C & D
Zones). All of the land area lying under an Approach-Departure
Clearance Surface, which is an inclined plane or :ombination
inclined and horizontal plane, symmetrical abou! the runway
centerline extended. The inclined plane flares outwari and upward
from the primary surface, having the same width a: the primary
surface, and begins with the centerline elevation of the runway end.
The slope ratio and dimensions of the inclined planes, (C ZONE)
and dimensions of the horizontal planes, (D ZONE) are as
follow:
a. Runway 17/35, one (1) foot in heightfor each forty
(40) feet in horizontal distance beginning at the end cf the primary
A-55
surface centerline elevation of the runway end. The runway end
centerline elevation is 1,015 MSL feet for Runway 35. The surface
extends to a point ten thousand (10,000) feet from the end of the
primary surface with an outer width of two thousand five hundred
(2,500) feet. Runway 17 does not have an Approach Surface and
Runway 35 does not have a Departure Surface.
b. Runway 15R/33L, one(1) foot in height for each
fifty (50) feet in horizontal distance beginning at the end of the
primary surfaces and at the centerline elevation of the runway end.
The runway end centerline elevation is 998 MSL feet for runway
15R and 1,000 MSL feet for 33L. The surfaces extend until they
reach an elevation of 500 feet above established airfield elevation
(1,515 MSL). They then continue horizontally at this elevation to a
point fifty thousand (50,000) feet from the point of beginning. The
outer width is sixteen thousand (16,000) feet.
c. Runway ISC/33C (formerly 15L/33R), one (1) foot
in height for each fifty (50) feet in horizontal distance beginning at
the end of the primary surfaces and at the centerline elevation of the
runway end. The runway end centerline elevation is 1,003 MSL feet
for Runway 15C and 989 MSL feet for Runway 33R. The surfaces
extend until they reach an elevation of 500 feet above established
airport elevation (1,515 MSL). They then continue horizontally at
this elevation to a point fifty thousand (50,000) feet from the point
of beginning. The outer width is sixteen thousand (16,000) feet.
d. Runway 15L/33R, one (1) foot in height for each
fifty (50) feet in horizontal distance beginning at the end of the
primary surface centerline elevation of the runway end. The runway
end centerline is 1,021 MSL feet for runway 15L and 996.9 MSL
for rnway 33R. The surfaces extend until they reach an elevation
of 500 feet above established airport elevation (1,515 MSL). They
A-56
then continue honzontally at this elevation to a point fifty thousand
(50,000) feet from the point of beginning. The outer width is sixteen
thousand (16,000) feet.
B. Zones Reiated to Airport Reference Points
i, Inner Horizontal Zone (E ZONE). All of the land
lying beneath the Inner Horizontal Surface, which is an oval-shaped
plane at a height of one hundred fifty (150) feet above the
established airfield elevation (1,165 MSL). It is constructed by
scribing an arc with a radius of seven thousand five hundred (7,500)
feet about the centerline at each end of each runway and
interconnecting these arcs with tangents.
4 Conical Zone (F ZONE). All of the land area lying
beneath the Conical Surface, which is an inclined plane that extends
from the periphery of the inner horizontal surface outward and
upward at a slope of twenty (20) to one (1) for a horizontal distance
of seven thousand (7,000) feet to a height of five hundred (500) feet
above the established airfield elevation (1,515 MSL).
3. Outer Horizontal Zone (G ZONE). All of the land
area lying beneath the Outer Horizontal Surface, which is an oval-
shaped plane located 500 feet above the established airport
elevation (1,515 MSL), extending outward from the outer periphery
of the conical surface for a horizontal distance of thirty thousand
(30,000) feet.
4. Transitional Zone (H ZONE). All of the land area
lying beneath a Transitional Surface, which are inclined planes that
connect the primary surface and the approach-departure clearance
surfaces to the inner horizontal surface, conical surface, outer
horizontal, or other transitional surfaces. The slope is one (1) foot
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in height for each seven (7) feet in horizontal distance outward and
upward at right angles to the runway centerline and runway
centerline extended. To determine the elevation for the beginning of
the transitional surface slope at any point along the lateral boundary
of the primary surface, draw a line from the point, perpendicular to
the runway centerline or to the runway centerline extended. The
elevation of the runway or the runway centerline extended at that
intersection is the elevation for the beginning of the 7 to 1 slope. The
elevation of the point is the distance minus one-half (1/2) the width
of the primary surface and divided by seven (7).
Except as otherwise provided in this provision, no structure or
obstruction shall be erected, altered or maintained in any zone
created by this provision to a height in excess of the applicable
height of the surface used to describe such zone.
6445 ADDITIONAL USE RESTRICTIONS
Notwithstanding any other provisions, no use shall be made of land
within any zone established herein in such a manner as to create
electrical interference with navigational signals or radio
communication between the airport and aircraft, make it difficult for
pilots to distinguish between airport lights and others, result in glare
in the eyes of pilots using the airport, impair visibility in the vicinity
of the airport, create bird strike hazards, or otherwise endanger or
interfere with the safe landing, taking off or maneuvering of aircraft
intending to use the airport.
6450 NONCONFORMING USES
A. Regulations not Retroactive. The regulations prescribed by
this provision shall not be construed to require changes in land use
or the removal, lowering or other change or alteration of any
structure established prior to the regulation as of October 31, 1982
or otherwise interfere with the continuance of any nonconforming
A-58
use.
B. Marking and Lighting. Notwithstanding the preceding
provision of this provision, the owner of any nonconforming
structure is hereby required to permit the installation, operation and
maintenance thereon of such markers and lighting as shall be
deemed necessary by Sheppard Air Force Base and/or Wichita
Falls Municipal Airport to indicate to the operators of aircraft in the
vicinity of the airport, the presence of such airport hazards. Such
markers and lights shall be installed, operated and maintained at the
expense of the City of Wichita Falls and/or Sheppard Air Force
Base.
C. Reconstruction. Anynonconforming use which is damaged
or destroyed by fire, flood, explosion, wind, earthquake, war, riot,
or other calamity may be reconstructed and used as it was before
such happening.
6455 PERMITS
A. New Construction. A permit shall be required to construct
a structure in any Accident Potential Zone, Noise Zone, or Height
Restriction Zone established by this provision as specifically
provided herein. Each application for a permit shall indicate the
location, height, and if applicable, use of the structure, with sufficient
particularity to enable it to be determined whether the resulting
structure would conform to the regulations herein prescribed. If such
determination is in the affirmative, the permit shall be granted. No
permit for a structure inconsistent with these provisions shall be
granted unless a variance has been approved in accordance with
Subsection C of this section.
R. In the limits of the Accident Potential Zones (APZ
I & Il), apermit shall be required for any structure. Such permits
A-59
shall be issued when the proposed use of the structure is permitted,
and the vertical height of the structure above the ground does not
exceed the height limits prescribed herein.
a) In the area lying inside the Accident Potential Zones
(APZ 1 & Il), a permit shall be required for any use or structure.
Such permits shall be issued when the vertical height of the
structure, above the ground, does not exceed the height limits
prescribed herein and is found to be a compatible use as defined
herein.
b) In the area lying outside the Accident Potential
Zones (APZI & Il) and within a height restriction zone, a permit
shall be required for any use or structure. Such permits shall be
issued when the vertical height of the structure, above the ground,
does not exceed the height limits prescribed herein and is found to
be a compatible use as defined herein.
2. In the area within the 65db or greater noise contour
as shown in the latest AICUZ study, a permit shall be required for
any use or structure as identified in the Land Use Compatibility
Table included herein as requiring noise attenuation. Such permits
shall be issued when the Building Official has approved noise
attenuation measures on those uses requiring attenuation as
identified herein.
No Certificate of Occupancy (CO) shall be issued for
noise attenuation measures as required herein. For residential land
uses required to attenuate, no water sales by the City or appropriate
water districts or supply corporations shall be permitted until
compliance is realized through inspection and approval of the
A-60
Building Official.
Noise attenuation measures as required herein, and as
approved by the Building Official, shall be installed and maintained
at the same level of attenuation as required by this provision.
B. Existing Uses.
l. No permit shall be granted that would allow the
establishment or creation of any airport hazard or permit a
nonconforming use or structure to be made higher or become a
greater hazard to air navigation, than it was on the effective date of
this ordinance.
2. No permit shall be granted that would allow the
expansion of a use not herein permitted within the Noise Zone
unless said use adheres to attenuation measures as required.
C. Variances. Any person desiring to erect or increase the
height of any structure, or use his property contrary to the
regulations prescribed in this provision may apply to the Board of
Adjustment for a variance from such regulations in question. The
application for variance from a height restriction shall be
accompanied by a determination from the Federal Aviation
Administration as to the effect of the proposal on the operation of
air navigation facilities and the safe, efficient use of navigable
airspace. A variance request shall be processed in accordance with
Section 7300 of this ordinance.
gunsheny Pai aches eaunneniadit by the Director of
Community Development or his designee or the Board of
Adjustment to effectuate the purposes of this provision and is
A-61
reasonable under the circumstances, be so conditioned as to require
the owner of the structure in question to install, operate and
maintain, at their expense, such markings and lights as may be
necessary.
6460 ENFORCEMENT
It shall be the duty of the Director of Community Development or
his designee to administer and enforce the regulations prescribed
herein. Applications for permits shall be made to the Director of
Community Development or his designee. Applications required by
this provision to be submitted to the Director of Community
Development or his designee shall be promptly considered and
granted or denied by him. In the event that the Director of
Community Development or his designee refuses to grant the
application, the applicant may appeal such decision to the Board of
Adjustment
Applications for variances shall be made to the Board of
Adjustment by first filing said application for variance with the
Director of Community Development or his designee who shall
forthwith transmit said application to the Board of Adjustment for
determination.
6465 AIRPORT BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
An Airport Board of Adjustment shall be appointed comprised of
both residents of the City of Wichita Falls, and residents located
outside of the City but within the area affected by this ordinance,
and according to the provisions set forth in the Local Government
Code. The actions and procedures of the Airport Board of
Adjustment shall be those as required under Chapter 24 1.032 of
the Local Government Code as amended.
A-62
6470 LAND USE COMPATIBILITY TABLE
Accident Potential Zones | Noise Zones (dB)
Land Use Clear | APZ | APZ | 65- | 70- | 75- | 80+
Zone I II 70 75 | 80
RESIDENTIAL
Single-Family | N N Y, Ay, | Bu N N
Detached
Single-Family | N N N A,, | Bi N N
Attached
Duplex N N N An ” N N
Apartments N N N Ai - N N
Group N N N An - N N
Quarters
Hotels/ N N N Ay, | Bi N N
Motels
Mobile/Mfg. N N N N N N N
Homes
Other N N N, |A; | Bu N N
Residential
MANUFACTURING
Food/ N N, Y Y You i ¥n 1 Yu
Kindred Prods
Products
Apparel/Sim- N N N, = Yn Yis Y¥.
ilar Products
Land Use Clear | APZ | APZ | 65- | 70- | 75- | 80+
Zone I II 70_ 175 | 80
Lumber/Wood | N Y; Y + Yo [Yn | *%n
Products
Furniture and | N Y, Y T §¥n tila ft Sa
Fixtures
Paper/Allied N Y; Y Y Ye [¥n 1 Yc
Products
Printing, Pub- | N Y; Y ¥ i¥6 iYa | Ye
lishing, etc.
Chemical and | N N |N, |Y |¥, /Y¥3 | Yu
Allied Prods.
Petrol refining | N N Y ¥ tvs ite | te
& related ind.
Rubber and N N, N, Y i¥4 i ¥e 1 Be
Plastic
Stone, Clay N N, Y YY t¥e ite ft Se
Glass Prods.
Primary metal | N N, T £2 ta t 30 ft 3m
industry
Fabricated N N, Y ¥ ote tin 1k Se
metal prods. lets -
Controlling, N N N, | Y [A B N
Optical Prods.
Watch, clock N N N, | Y A B N
related indust.
Misc. Mfg. N Y, | i oe ee bee
Land Use Clear | APZ | APZ | 65- | 70- | 75- | 80+
Zone I I 70 75 80
TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION, UTILITIES
Railroad and N, » a ¥ YY i ¥u 2a tea
Transit
Motor Vehicle | N; Y Y Y §¥4-1 ¥a-t te
Transport
Aircraft N; Y, 7 YY i%6 ita tf ¥e
Transportation
Streets and N, x Y Y T¥e— 1 ¥ I Bu
Highways
Automobile N; Y, = Y -iVa i tu 4 ie
Parking
Communic- N, Yu ¥ Y Aus B,; N
ations
Utilities N; , » 4 kg ¥ t¥a:5 te
Other transp. N; Y, Y Y |A,s | By | N
comm. utility
TRADE
Wholesale N Y; Y Y Yo 1 Y¥n | Yu
Retail bldg N Y, bd = Yo 1Y¥pn 1 Yu
materials.,
hardware,
farm products
Retail, general | N N, Y, |Y A B N
Retail, food N N, | ae ef A B N
Land Use Clear | APZ | APZ | 65- | 70- | 75- | 80+
Zone I II 70 |75 | 80
Retail, auto, N Y; Y, bd A B N
marine, air &
accessories
Retail, home N N, Y, + A B N
furn, & equip.
Eating/drink | N n |nN, |Y |a |B IN
Retail, other N N, Y, Y A B N
SERVICES
Finance, real N N Y, Y A B N
estate, insur.
Personal svcs. | N N Ye Y A B N
Cemetery N Y, | Y, 7 tte tim 1 ¥™
Business svc.
N N
Repair svcs. N : a > 3 DG 2 Pa semme”
N
N
Prof. services N Ye » 4 A B N
Hospitals, N N Ax | Bx N N
nursing homes
Other medical | N N N Y A N
Contract con- | N ; a ies b 4 A N
struction svcs.
Govt. services | N N Y; Yx | Ax | Be | N
~| Educ. |, N N N A* | Be | N N
services
Land Use Clear | APZ | APZ | 65- | 70- | 75- | 80+
Zone I II 70 | 75 80
Misc. services | N N, Y; Y A B N
CULTURAL, ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATIONAL
Cultural N N N, | A* | Bx N N
Activities
Churches N N N, | A* | Bx N N
Nature Exhib. | N Y, | Y |Y* |}N IN IN
Public Assbly | N N ties es 3 N N
Auditoriums, N N N B N N
Concert halls
Outdoor N N N N N N | N
music shell
Amphitheater
Outdoor N N N Yu | ¥n | N N
sports arena
Amusements N N Y, | Y Y N N
Recreational N N Y Yx | Ax | Bk | N
activities, golf
stables, water
Resorts and N N N Yx | Yx N N
group camps
Parks N Y; Y; Yx | Y*x | N N
Other cultural | N Y, Y, | Y* | Yx | N N
entertainment
recreation
Land Use Clear | APZ | APZ | 65- | 70- | 75- | 80+
Zone I II 70 75 80
RESOURCES PRODUCTION AND EXTRACTION
Agricultural, | Yi. y | Y |Ym |Yp> | Yo | ¥
except 21
livestock
Livestock N Y Y i¥a ¥en 1 Yu 1”
farm., animal 21
breeding
Agricultural & | N Y; Y i¥e t¥sn iN N
related activ.
Fishing and N,- Y; Y Y § Y Y
related activ.
Mining and N Y; bs Y Y Y Y
related activ. 7
Other N Y; Y Y Y Y Y
resource
prod./extract
LEGEND
Y (Yes) Land use and related structures are compatible
without restriction.
N(No) Land use and related structures are not compatible
and shall be prohibited.
Y, (yes with restrictions)
~Land--use and related structures generally =—S
compatible; see notes 1 through 21.
A-68
N, (no with restrictions)
See notes 1 through 21.
NLR (Noise Level Reduction)
A, B, or C
A,, B,, or C,
NLR (outdoor to indoor) to be achieved through
incorporation of noise attenuation measures into the
design and construction of the structures.
Land use and related structures generally
compatible; measures to achieve NLR for A(DNL
66-70), B (DNL 71-75), C (DNL 76-80), need to
be incorporated into the design and construction of
structures and approved by the Building
Official.
Land use generally compatible with NLR.
However, measures to achieve an overall noise
level reduction do not necessarily solve noise
difficulties and additional evaluation is warranted.
See appropriate footnotes.
The designation of these uses as “compatible” in
this zone reflects individual federal agencies’ and
program considerations of general cost and
feasibility factors, as well as past community
experiences and program objectives. The Airport
Zoning Board shall review request and be
responsible for issuing necessary permits based
upon its findings.
A-69
NOTES
Maximum density of 2 dwelling units per acre or lot
coverage less than 20 percent, whichever is greater.
Within each land use category, uses exist where further
definition may be needed due to the variation of densities in
people and structures. (See Exhibit A included herein)
No buildings, structures or above-ground utilities shall be
placed within the area defined as the Clear Zone.
No passenger terminals and no major above-ground
transmission lines in APZ I.
Factors to be considered: labor intensity, structural
coverage, explosive characteristics, and air pollution. The
proposed use shall be evaluated by the Director of
Community Development or his designee in conference with
the base AICUZ Officer for Sheppard Air Force Base or
designated personnel.
Low-intensity office uses only. Meeting places,
auditoriums, etc. shall not be permitted. For the purpose of
this provision, low-intensity is defined as an employment
population not to exceed twenty five (25) people per acre
per shift.
Excludes chapels.
Facilities must be low intensity. For the purpose of this
provision, low-intensity is defined as an employment
population not to exceed twenty five (25) people per acre
per shift.
10.
ll.
a2.
13.
A-70
Clubhouse not permitted.
Areas for gatherings of people are not recommended. The
Airport Zoning Board shall be responsible for issuing the
necessary permit based-on its findings.
a. Residential use is discouraged in DNL 66-75dB and
prohibited in DNL above 75 db.
b. Where residential uses are allowed, measures to achieve
outdoor to indoor Noise Level Reduction (NLR) to DNL
65dB shall be incorporated and considered in individual
approvals. The Building Official shall be responsible for
determining adequacy of attenuation measures.
NLR criteria will not eliminate outdoor noise problems.
However, building location and site planning and design,
and use of berms and barriers may help mitigate outdoor
exposure, particularly from near ground level sources.
Measures that reduce outdoor noise shall be used whenever
practical in preference to measures which only protect
interior spaces. Such measures shall be indicated on a site
pian and evaluated prior to approval of the required permit.
Measures to achieve the same NLR as required for facilities
in DNL 66-70 dB range shall be incorporated into the
design and construction of portions of these buildings where
the public is received, office areas, noise sensitive areas or
where the normal noise level is low.
Measures to achieve the same NLR as required for facilities
in DNL 71-75 dB range shall be incorporated into the
design and construction of portions of these buildings where
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
A-71
the public is received, office areas, noise sensitive areas or
where the normal noise level is low.
Measures to achieve the same NLR as required for facilities
in DNL 76-80 dB range shall be incorporated into the
design and construction of portions of these buildings where
the public is received, office areas, noise sensitive areas or
where the normal noise level is low.
If noise sensitive, use appropriate NLR. If not noise
sensitive the use is compatible.
No buildings.
Land use is compatible provided special sound
reinforcement systems are installed as approved by the
Building Official.
Residential buildings require the same NLR as required for
facilities in DNL 66-70 dB range.
Residential buildings require the same NLR as required for
facilities in DNL 71-75 dB range.
Residential buildings are not permitted.
Land use is not allowed.
For those situations requiring a hearing before the Airport Zoning
Board before a permit may be issued, the Director of Community
Development or his designee may require building elevations,
building plans, landscape plans and other details to allow for proper
evaluation of the proposed use in order to ensure the protection of
the public’s health, safety and welfare.
A-72
EXHIBIT A
Uses are compatible if they do not result in a gathering of individuals.
in an area that would result in an average density of greater than 25
persons per acre per hour during a 24-hour period, not to exceed
50 persons per acre at any time.
The following is a reproduction of Appendix F, Volume II of the
1992 AICUZ study for Sheppard Air Force Base, and is included
here for ease of reference.
Average Density
Average densities of persons per hour during a 24-hour period are
determined by calculating the number of persons per acre expected
on a site, multiplying by the number ofhour (sic) they will be on the
site, and dividing the total by 24.
Example #1. One 8-hour shift of 30 workers on a one acre site.
Avg. density = 30 persons expected x 8 hours on site = 240
Then 240/24=10: Thus avg. density = 10 persons per hour per
24-hour period.
Example #2. Two 8-hour shifts for 30 workers on a one acre site.
Avg. density = 30 persons expected x 16 hours on site = 480
Then 480/24=20: Thus avg. density = 20 persons per acre per hour
per a 24-hour period.
Maximum Density
The maximum number of persons allowed per acre per hour is
calculated by dividing the number of hours persons will be on site by
24 hours, and then dividing by 25 persons per acre per hour by the
result. The resulting number is the maximum number of persons
A-73
allowed per acre per hour, provided it does not exceed 50. Fifty
persons per acre at any one time is the maximum number of persons
allowed under the standard.
Example. Maximum density for two 8-hour shifts on a one acre
site. 25 divided by 16/24 = 37.5 persons per hour allowed.
Application of this formula results in the following table which
specifies the maximum persons per acre per hour for the duration of
the time that persons are expected to be on site during a 24-hour
period.
PERSONS PER ACRE
HOURS OF OPERATION MAXIMUM PERSONS
PER DAY ALLOWED PER ACRE/
DURING EACH HOUR
24 25
23 26
22 27
21 28
20 30
19 31
18 33
17 35
16 37
15 40
14 42
13 46
12 or less 50*
* NOTE: Fractions in the maximum number of persons
allowed column are rounded to the lowest whole number.
* Also note that concentrations of people may not exceed 50
people/acre at any time.
A-74
VERNON'S TEXAS STATUTES AND CODES
ANNOTATED
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 7. REGULATION OF LAND USE, STRUCTURES,
BUSINESSES, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
SUBTITLE A. MUNICIPAL REGULATORY AUTHORITY
CHAPTER 211. MUNICIPAL ZONING AUTHORITY
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL ZONING REGULATIONS
§ 211.004. Compliance With Comprehensive Plan
(a) Zoning regulations must be adopted in accordance with a
comprehensive plan and must be designed to:
(1) lessen congestion in the streets;
(2) secure safety from fire, panic, and other dangers;
(3) promote health and the general welfare;
(4) provide adequate light and air;
(5) prevent the overcrowding of land;
(6) avoid undue concentration of population; or
(7) facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, water,
sewers, schools, parks, and other public requirements.
A-75
VERNON'S TEXAS STATUTES AND CODES
ANNOTATED
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 7. REGULATION OF LAND USE, STRUCTURES,
BUSINESSES, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
SUBTITLE C. REGULATORY AUTHORITY APPLYING
TO MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 241. MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY ZONING
AUTHORITY AROUND AIRPORTS
§ 241.001. Short Title
This chapter may be cited as the Airport Zoning Act.
§ 241.002. Legislative Findings
The legislature finds that:
(1) an airport hazard endangers the lives and property of
users of the airport and of occupants of land in the vicinity of the
airport;
(2) an airport hazard that is an obstruction reduces the size
of the area available for the landing, taking off, and maneuvering of
aircraft, tending to destroy or impair the utility of the airport and the
public investment in the airport;
(3) the creation of an airport hazard is a public nuisance and
an injury to the community served by the airport affected by the
hazard;
A-76
(4) itis necessary in the interest of the public health, public
safety, and general welfare to prevent the creation of an airport
hazard;
(5) the creation of an airport hazard should be prevented,
to the extent legally possible, by the exercise of the police power
without compensation; and
(6) the prevention of the creation of an airport hazard and
the elimination, the removal, the alteration, the mitigation, or the
marking and lighting of an airport hazard are public purposes for
which a political subdivision may raise and spend public funds and
acquire land or interests in land.
§ 241.003. Definitions
In this chapter:
(1) "Airport" means an area of land or water, publicly or
privately owned, designed and set aside for the landing and taking
off of aircraft and used or to be used in the interest of the public for
that purpose. The term includes an area with installations relating
to flights, including installations, facilities, and bases of operations for
tracking flights or acquiring data concerning flights.
(2) "Airport hazard" means a structure or object of natural
growth that obstructs the air space required for the taking off,
landing, and flight of aircraft or that interferes with visual, radar,
radio, or other systems for tracking, acquiring data relating to,
monitoring, or controlling aircraft.
(3) "Airport hazard area" means an area of land or water on
which an airport hazard could exist.
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(4) "Airport zoning regulation” means an airport hazard area
zoning regulation and an airport compatible land use zoning
regulation adopted under this chapter.
(5) "Centerline" means a line extending through the midpoint
of each end of a runway.
(6) "Compatible land use" means a use of land adjacent to
an airport that does not endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the
owners, occupants, or users of the land because of levels of noise
or vibrations or the risk of personal injury or property damage
created by the operations of the airport, including the taking off and
landing of aircraft.
(7)"Controlled compatible land use area" means an area of
land located outside airport boundaries and within a rectangle
bounded by lines located no farther than 1 12 statute miles from the
centerline of an instrument or EP {2} primary runway and lines
located no farther than five statute miles from each end of the paved
surface of an instrument or primary runway.
(8) "Instrument runway” means.an-existing or planned
runway of at least 3,200 feet for which an instrument landing
procedure published by a defense agency of the federal government
or the Federal Aviation Administration exists or is planned.
(9) "Obstruction" means a structure, growth, or other
object, including a mobile object, that exceeds a limiting height
established by federal regulations or by an airport hazard area
zoning regulation.
(10) "Political subdivision" means a municipality or county.
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(11) "Primary runway” means an existing or planned paved
runway, as shown in the official airport layout plan (ALP) of the
airport, of at least 3,200 feet on which a majority of the approaches
to and departures from the airport occur.
(12) "Runway" means a defined area of an airport prepared
for the landing and taking off of aircraft along its length.
(13) "Structure" means an object constructed or installed by
one or more persons and includes a building, tower, smokestack,
and overhead transmission line.
§ 241.004. Airport Used in Interest of Public
For the purposes of this chapter, an airport is used in the interest of
the public if:
(1) the owner of the airport, by contract, license, or
otherwise, permits the airport to be used by the public to an extent
that the airport fulfills an essential community purpose; or
(2) the airport is used by the state or an agency of the state
or by the United States for national defense purposes or for any
federal program relating to flight.
§ 241.005.
A reference in this chapter to the adoption of an airport zoning
regulation includes the amendment, repeal, or other change of a
regulation. A reference to the adoption of an airport zoning
regulation also includes the amendment of an airport zoning
regulation existing on the date the law codified by this chapter took
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effect, which was September 5, 1947.
§ 241.011. Airport Hazard Area Zoning Regulations
(a) To prevent the creation of an airport hazard, a political
subdivision in which an airport hazard area is located may adopt,
administer, and enforce, under its police power, airport hazard area
zoning regulations for the airport hazard area.
(b) The airport hazard area zoning regulations may divide
an airport hazard area into zones and for each zone:
(1) specify the land uses permitted;
(2) regulate the type of structures; and
(3) restrict the height of structures and objects of
natural growth to prevent the creation of an obstruction to flight
operations or air navigation.
§ 241.012. Airport Compatible Land Use Zoning Regulations
(a) A political subdivision may adopt, administer, and
enforce, under its police power, airport compatible land use zoning
regulations for the part of a controlled compatible land use area
located within the political subdivision if the airport is:
(1) used in the interest of the public to the benefit of
the political subdivision; or
(2) located within the political subdivision and
owned or operated by a federal defense agency or by the state.
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(b) The political subdivision by ordinance or resolution may
implement, in connection with airport compatible land use zoning
regulations, any federal law or rules controlling the use of land
located adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of the airport.
(c) The airport compatible land use zoning regulations must
include a statement that the airport fulfills an essential community
purpose.
§ 241.013. Extraterritorial Zoning in Political Subdivisions
With Population of More Than 45,000
(a) A political subdivision with a population of more than
45,000 in which an airport used in the interest of the public to the
benefit of the political subdivision is located may adopt, administer,
and enforce:
(1) airport hazard area zoning regulations applicable
to an airport hazard area relating to the airport and located outside
the political subdivision; and
_ (2) airport compatible land use zoning regulations applicable
to acontrolled compatible land use area relating to the airport and
located outside the political subdivision.
(b) The political subdivision has the same power to adopt,
administer, and enforce airport hazard area zoning regulations or
airport compatible land use zoning regulations under this section as
that given a political subdivision by Sections 241.011 and 241.012.
(c) The airport hazard area zoning regulations or airport
compatible land use zoning regulations must include a statement that
the airport fulfills an essential community purpose.
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§ 241.014. Joint Airport Zoning Board
(a) A political subdivision to whose benefit an airport is used
in the interest of the public or in which an airport owned or operated
by a defense agency of the federal government or the state is
located may create a joint airport zoning board with another political
subdivisicr. in which an airport hazard area or a controlled
compatible land use area relating to the airport is located. The
political subdivisions must act by resolution or ordinance in creating
the joint board.
(b) The joint airport zoning board has the same power to
adopt, administer, and enforce airport hazard area zoning
regulations or airport compatible land use zoning regulations under
this section as that given a political subdivision by Sections 241.011
and 241.012.
(c) The joint airport zoning board must consist of two
members appointed by each of the political subdivisions creating the
board and, in addition, a chairman elected by a majority of the
appointed members.
(d) If an agency of the state owns and operates an airport
located within an airport hazard area or controlled compatible land
use area governed by a joint airport zoning board, the agency is
entitled to have two members on the board.
(e) The joint airport zoning board for an airport that is
owned or operated by a defense agency of the federal government
and that is closed by the federal government may provide that
zoning regulations adopted by the board continue in effect until the
fourth anniversary of the date the airport is closed.
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§ 241.015. Incorporation of Airport Zoning Regulation Into :
A political subdivision may incorporate an airport zoning regulation
in a comprehensive zoning ordinance and administer and enforce it
in connection with the administration and enforcement of the :
comprehensive zoning ordinance if:
(1) the two zoning regulations apply, in whole or in part, to
the same area; and
(2) the comprehensive zoning ordinance includes, among
other matters, a regulation on the height of buildings
§ 241.016. Airport Zoning Commission
(a) Before
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