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Oconee County Aeronautics Commission reviews airport zoning tools, elects officers for 2025
Summary
The commission heard a presentation on county and state mapping tools used to evaluate construction near the airport, including FAA review processes, then elected officers and approved meeting dates for 2025.
The Oconee County Aeronautics Commission on Jan. 30 heard a presentation from the county planning office on how to check zoning and safety overlays for construction near the county airport, and held routine housekeeping, electing officers and approving meeting dates for 2025.
James Coley, director of planning and zoning for Oconee County, demonstrated the county’s online GIS zoning maps and a state “Clue” tool that can run a height-and-obstruction compatibility analysis for specific parcel locations. Coley showed how the tools display airport overlay zones and said the tools produce a step-by-step report about whether a proposed structure is compatible with airport safety restrictions.
Coley told the commission the county’s GIS maps include an airport-zone layer and that the state Clue tool can be used to select a point, enter a proposed structure height and run an automated analysis that accounts for ground elevation. He also noted the Federal Aviation Administration reviews certain proposals through FAA Form 7460 (Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration) when projects could affect air navigation.
Commission members asked how far the airport’s review reaches. Coley and staff described the analysis as extending roughly 3 nautical miles from the airport and said the Clue tool will also show overlay coverage outside Oconee County (for example, into neighboring Pickens County) when relevant.
Coley and commission members urged that inquiries about potential construction near the airport be routed to the county planning office as a first step; commission members also said airport staff (referred to in the meeting as “Jeff”) can assist in coordinating reviews. Coley invited commission members and others to contact the planning office for help running site-specific analyses.
On routine business the commission approved the minutes from its prior meeting, elected officers for the 2025 calendar year by acclamation and adopted a quarterly meeting schedule. Dan Suddath was nominated to continue as chairman and was elected by acclamation; a commissioner identified only as “Al” was nominated and elected vice chair by acclamation; Martin Barnfield agreed to serve as secretary and was elected by acclamation. The commission approved proposed meeting dates (listed below) and then adjourned.
Votes at a glance: - Approval of prior meeting minutes — motion to approve made and seconded; outcome: approved. - Election of chairman (nominee: Dan Suddath) — nominations closed and nominee elected by acclamation; outcome: approved. - Election of vice chairman (nominee: Al) — nominations closed and nominee elected by acclamation; outcome: approved. - Election of secretary (nominee: Martin Barnfield) — nominations closed and nominee elected by acclamation; outcome: approved. - Approval of 2025 meeting dates (quarterly: April 24, July 30, Oct. 30) — approved. - Motion to adjourn — approved.
The commission did not go into executive session. Members and staff emphasized that airport-zone reviews are available online and encouraged referring development inquiries to the planning office to ensure FAA and county requirements are identified early.
