18.38.050 Airport overlay intent and boundaries.
The purpose of the airport overlay, as identified on the city of Auburn comprehensive zoning map, is to protect the utility and viability of Auburn Airport by discouraging incompatible land uses and requiring the evaluation and consideration of potential safety impacts when siting certain land uses in proximity to the airport. The airport overlay is supplemental to the established zoning districts and may be more restrictive than the underlying zoning district. The overlay is composed of six zones based on use and proximity to the airport runway. The zones were modeled after the WSDOT Aviation Airport Compatibility Zones 1 – 6, and the airport’s published traffic pattern.
A. Zone 1 – Runway Overlay Zone. Zone 1 is a rectangular area that encompasses the trapezoidal runway protection zone (RPZ) at each end of the runway as shown in the “Auburn Municipal Airport Master Plan,” dated May 2015, as may be amended. The purpose of Zone 1 is to maintain areas that are generally free of obstructions and significant concentrations of people. Zone 1 extends 1,000 feet in length from the ends of the future configuration of Runway 34/16 and is 750 feet in width.
B. Zone 2 – Inner Safety Zone. Zone 2 is a rectangular area that extends beyond Zone 1 along the extension of the runway centerline. Next to Zone 1 it represents the area where the risk of aircraft accidents is the greatest. This zone extends 1,500 feet from Zone 1 and is 750 feet in width.
C. Zone 3 – Inner Turning Zone. Zone 3 is defined by a triangular shaped area that is positioned along each side of Zones 1 and 2. When operating visually, departing aircraft may begin turning over this area to fly toward their destination or to remain in the traffic pattern. Arriving aircraft often overfly this area as well. This zone extends 3,000 feet from the Zone 3 vertex offsets (a point that is on the runway centerline) and inward within a 30-degree sector towards the extended runway centerline.
D. Zone 4 – Outer Safety Zone. Zone 4 is a rectangular area that lies beyond Zone 3 along the extended runway centerline. Aircraft flying straight out or in, overfly this area at low altitude. This zone is particularly significant on runways where airport operations use instrument procedures and at busy airports where elongated traffic patterns are common. This zone extends 2,500 feet beyond Zone 3 and is 500 feet in width.
E. Zone 5 – Sideline Safety Zone. Zone 5 consists of narrow bands along each side of the runway and encompasses the object free area (OFA), as defined by the airport master plan dated 2015, as may be amended. This zone is defined by a 500-foot centerline offset on each side of the runway. Aircraft do not normally fly over the sideline zone. The principal risk is from aircraft that lose directional control while landing or just after takeoff.
F. Zone 6 – Airport Operations Zone. Zone 6 contains the remainder of the airport environment where aircraft fly as they approach and depart the airport. This zone extends 6,500 feet in length from the Zone 3 vertex offsets and 6,000 feet in width from the runway centerline. (Ord. 6838 § 1 (Exh. A), 2021.)