TRUMBULL COUNTY Airport zone gets new authorities

Zoning board members would regulate buildings near the airport.
WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners have named members to a panel that will oversee an airport zoning district covering large swaths of Vienna, Fowler, Brookfield, Howland and Bazetta townships.
The Trumbull County Planning Commission and Save Our Air Reservists, a pro-base advocacy group, called on the commissioners this year to create the zoning district.
Regulations were recommended by the Spectrum Group, a consulting firm hired by SOAR to identify what local officials can do to help the air base survive a round of base closures scheduled next year.
Height limit
Within this district, the groups want to impose zoning regulations that would limit tall buildings in flight paths to and from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport.
The zoning board members would be responsible for applying the law or granting variances. The board would be chaired by the county commissioners' board president, to be decided during the commissioners' reorganization meeting next year. The current board president is Commissioner Joseph Angelo, who is leaving office at year's end.
The members at first will serve staggered terms, each beginning Jan. 1, 2005; after the expiration of the initial terms, members would serve four-year terms.
The members and terms are: Jerry Mauger, through Dec. 31, 2005; Don Chieffo, through Dec. 31, 2006; Bob Dean, through Dec. 31, 2007; Gus Michelakis, through Dec. 31, 2008; and David Granelly, also through Dec. 31, 2008.
Regulations
The regulations they will oversee -- which mirror FAA requirements -- would ban buildings taller than 150 feet within about 2.5 miles of the airport, and buildings taller than 400 feet within about 3.5 miles.
The height of buildings would also be regulated in two wedges of land extending about eight miles from each end of the primary runway. Dense settlements, like trailer parks, apartment complexes and schools, could also be regulated in these areas.
Few, if any, buildings in Trumbull County are 150 feet tall. But plans for a $300 million indoor racetrack appear to conflict with this zoning proposal. The 400-foot-tall building proposed by developer Bob Brant is being considered for a site very close to the airport.