Senate panel creates study committee on tall-structure rules near general aviation airports

The Senate Transportation Committee on Monday unanimously approved SR 283 to create a senate study committee to examine height restrictions and tall-structure limits near the state's general aviation airports.

The resolution, presented by Majority Leader Gooch, asks the new panel to study how other states regulate tall structures around airports and to recommend whether Georgia should adopt statewide standards. The resolution directs the study committee to meet five times and return a report to the Legislature.

Why it matters: Georgia has more than 100 general aviation airports, officials told the committee, and local leaders and airport operators say inconsistent local rules and growing obstructions can reduce usable runway capacity and blunt economic benefits from airport activity.

"Basically, this is looking at height restrictions. We're one of three states that does not regulate height restrictions around its surrounding airports," Majority Leader Gooch said, describing the measure. He told the committee that the study panel will include prepared testimony and site visits and will seek to balance aviation safety and local development.

Edward Lindsey, representing the Georgia Airport Association, told the committee the association has studied the issue and will assist the committee with experts and by offering airport locations for on-site visits. "We represent 72 of the 105 airports in the state," Lindsey said, adding that the association and local governments that own airports want a path that preserves airport utility for economic development.

Committee members pressed for attention to private-property rights. One member warned the panel that restrictions on private development can trigger inverse-condemnation claims that may require compensation. "You're going to get into private property rights," a senator said; "people's development rights will be stricken, so you'll end up having to pay for a lot of that through courts and lawsuits."

Gooch and other supporters said the study will examine models from other states and seek local government buy-in. The resolution outlines participants including a designee from the Department of Transportation and representatives from municipal governments and associations; the president of the Senate will appoint four committee members and the state transportation chair will be on the panel.

The committee voted to pass SR 283 by substitute without opposition. The study committee will hold five meetings and return its report to the Legislature.

The study's work and any eventual statutory proposals will proceed separately; the resolution does not itself change state law.