The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to adopt an airport safety overlay intended to prevent tall structures and visual obstructions near the county’s airports.

The board’s chair said the measure’s "premise is to protect our airports," and asked for a motion to open a hearing. Planning staff told the board the amendment incorporates current state and Federal Aviation Administration language into county code to make the zoning ordinance and county code consistent. The planning commission approved the proposal Oct. 21 with no conditions. After a brief public hearing with no speakers, the board approved the overlay as presented. A motion to approve was made and seconded, and the chair announced the vote as 5-0 in favor.

Why it matters: the text formalizes limits on building heights, setbacks and other features intended to prevent glare or visual obstacles that could interfere with aircraft operations. County staff said the amendment simply brings the county’s zoning and code into alignment with current state language used by aviation authorities.

What happened next: staff said the first application under the airport zoning district will be considered at the Dec. 16 planning commission meeting.

The board took no additional action on related land-use cases at the meeting.