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Airport manager flags zoning mismatch with Ridgeland; cites FAA grant-assurance risk
Summary
Airport manager Lenny Sansone told commissioners that portions of airport property fall within the Town of Ridgeland's residential zone and said the county is working to have those parcels rezoned industrial to avoid conflicts with FAA grant-assurances and county airport ordinances.
At the Jasper County Airport Commission meeting Dec. 10, airport manager Lenny Sansone told commissioners a mapping review found large red areas of the airport layout fall inside the Town of Ridgeland and are zoned residential there.
"This red block represents a section of our land that in the town of Ridgeland is currently zoned residential," Sansone said. He explained the county purchased the land in 2015 but it had been annexed by Ridgeland in 2008. "So we're just kind of tying up a loose end here," he said, urging a formal rezoning process in Ridgeland so airport use will match local zoning.
Sansone warned that FAA grant-assurances and county ordinances place conditions on airport control and development. "We all came really closely associated with some several of our grant assurances... the airport needs to be completely controlled by the ordinances that we have on the books," he said, adding staff will ensure compliance with neighboring zoning rules as well.
Commissioners asked how the FAA views multi-jurisdictional parcels. Fulgin said the FAA expects the airport sponsor to follow grant assurances regardless of municipal boundaries. Commissioners agreed staff should pursue the rezoning process with Ridgeland to avoid future questions about airport authority and operations.
What happens next: Airport staff will work with the Town of Ridgeland on formal rezoning procedures and continue to align local zoning with county airport ordinances to protect FAA grant funding eligibility.
