EDGAR CO., IL. (ECWd) –

On the heals of the decision by IDOT-DA to halt all state and federal funding of the Edgar County Airport due to grant assurance violations (lack of zoning), the board has started talking about zoning for the airport.

Mark Isaf, Edgar County State’s Attorney, stated that any airport zoning could be a lengthy process and the process used to develop zoning is spelled out in the law.

During the April 11, 2016 Edgar County Board Study Session, Mark Isaf, the Edgar County State’s Attorney, stated that the county has not been operating the airport in accordance with statute, which requires zoning, since its inception. The main reason for this is the requirement to have the airport zoned for airport purposes prior to any expansions. In light of this, IDOT-DA has informed the board that all federal and state funds have been frozen and the county will not receive any further funding until it establishes zoning – which will bring the county into compliance with grant assurances of previous grants.

The board then discussed the procedure of researching and establishing zoning for the airport – and I commented that since the county was looking at zoning, it may as well establish county-wide zoning for tall structures such as wind turbine farms and cell phone towers to better protect landowners.

Additionally, the county, in its research for zoning, should include all surrounding and affected land owners in the process.

In case you want to read up on county and airport zoning, links are provided below.

AIR TRANSPORTATION
(620 ILCS 25/) Airport Zoning Act.

The Airport Zoning Act lists the requirements for zoning and the process used to first establish zoning for county (and other) airports.

All zoning must be reasonable, must effectuate airport approach plans as designed by IDOT, and must include public hearings, among other things.

AIR TRANSPORTATION
(620 ILCS 40/) General County Airport and Landing Field Act.

Zoning is required for expansion of airport landing fields, etc.

Illinois Counties Code
(55 ILCS 5) Division 5-12. Zoning

Authorizes counties to establish zoning and also provide the procedure for a county to institute zoning.

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