01-19-12 Regular, Public Hearing and Workshop Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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DRAFT JANUARY 10, 2012 Force Base. Ownership was deeded to the City of La Porte in June 1947 and was reclassified as a local service airport in 1959. According to the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS), the La Porte Municipal Airport is classified as a General Utility airport with Reliever status. The General Utility airport designation refers to the particular Aircraft Approach Categories and Airplane Design Groups (ADGs) that can be accommodated at the airport. Reliever airports are general aviation airports in metropolitan areas that are intended to reduce congestion at large commercial service airports by providing general aviation pilots with alternative landing areas, and providing more general aviation access to the community. In 1991, the Houston - Galveston Areas Council (H -GAC) identified the La Porte Municipal Airport as one of 10 designated reliever airports. As established in the Airport and Airway Improvement Act of 1982, a minimum of 10 percent of Airport Improvement Program funds must be reserved for reliever airports. The La Porte Municipal Airport Master Plan was prepared for the City in 1992. The plan identifies existing and future airport conditions and facilities, including details on fixed base operators, aircraft parking, maintenance, navigational aids, airport layout plan, terminal area plan, airspace and approach zones surfaces, on- airport land use plan, and an environmental consequences review. However, an operational plan was not included. Historically, the airport has not met the use and revenue projections as projected in the Airport Master Plan. Further complicating the problem is the recent vacancy of the 27 Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard and a general perception that the airport grounds have not been well maintained. Consequently, one of the topics that came up during the public participation process was whether or not the airport property should be redeveloped as another use. Reusing the property for non - airport purposes, however, would be difficult due to federal regulations attached to the property conveyance. 26 LaPorte Municipal Airport — Airport Master Plan Update (Final), April 1992. 27 Conveyances to Public Agencies.... the Secretary of Transportation shall request the head of the department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government owning or controlling land or airspace to convey a property interest in the land or airspace to the public agency sponsoring the project or owning or controlling the airport when necessary to carry out a project under this subchapter at a public airport, to operate a public airport, or for the future development of an airport under the national plan of integrated airport systems.... A conveyance may be made only on the condition that the property interest conveyed reverts to the Government, at the option of the Secretary, to the extent it is not developed for an airport purpose or used consistently with the conveyance. 49 USC Chapter 471, Airport Development Code, Sec. 47125, Conveyance of United States Government land. (paraphrased for clarity). A COtUtMUNITY VI SI ON FOR LA 1'ORTE TE AS - 2010 UPDATE