Board moves forward on airport overlay zoning, sends draft to military and FAA contacts for review

The board reviewed a proposed airport overlay district intended to streamline aviation-related land uses and to make select aviation activities permitted by right on county-owned land near the airport. Staff said the draft includes FAA-related height and safety restrictions and that state code requires the county to notify military authorities (the county referenced a 30-day notice requirement) when proposed work might affect military operations. Supervisors directed staff to send the current draft to military contacts and other federal partners and to include the overlay on the planning commission agenda for August and the board's public hearing in the same month. Members discussed planning commission comments, including one commissioner’s suggestion to make aviation manufacturing and assembly a special-exception use rather than a by-right use. Planning staff suggested keeping common aviation-support activities as by-right while considering special exceptions for larger manufacturing uses; staff also noted that FAA and Virginia Aviation Authority guidelines would also apply. No final zoning change was adopted; the board asked staff to send the draft to Colonel Quinn and other relevant aviation contacts, allow the 30-day review, and incorporate any feedback before scheduling a public hearing.