Arizona Military Airports Regional Compatibility Project

              The Regional Compatibility Project is a
statewide effort to identify permanent
resolutions to encroachment issues around
active military airports through collaborative
effort and strong implementation. The fi rst area
to be addressed through this process will be
Western Maricopa County/Luke Air Force Base
(AFB). This is the introductory project bulletin
for this project; these updates will continue
throughout the process. To receive future
bulletins via email or U.S. mail, please contact:
Deb Sydenham, AICP
Director, Community Planning Offi ce
Arizona Department of Commerce
(602) 280-8114 or debs@azcommerce.com.
WHAT IS THE REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY
PROJECT?
A rizona is home to a network of United
States military airports and installations,
ARIZONA MILITARY AIRPORTS
REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY PROJECT
Project Bulletin #1, June 2002
including Luke AFB—the largest F-16 training
base in the world—in western Maricopa County,
Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, the Yuma Proving
Ground and Yuma Marine Air Corps Station,
Fort Huachuca in southeastern Arizona, and
the Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex in
southwestern Arizona. In 2001, legislation
appropriating funds to develop comprehensive
land use plans in the noise and accident
potential zones surrounding active military
airports (Senate Bill 1120) was passed. In direct
response to this legislation, a state agency
project team was established for the Regional
Compatibility Project, and a consultant was
selected through a competitive process. The
project was delayed throughout the fi rst quarter
of 2002 as budget discussions in the Arizona
legislature occurred. The project resumed in
March 2002 upon assurance of funding.
WESTERN MARICOPA COUNTY/LUKE AIR FORCE BASE
Western Maricopa County/Luke AFB was
identifi ed as the fi rst area to be addressed
in accordance with the legislation, and in
recognition of the substantial development
pressures in the vicinity of Luke AFB. There are
numerous potentially affected jurisdictions and
stakeholders in Western Maricopa County. The
Compatibility Project is a means to convene
the interested and affected parties, function as
a clearinghouse for data collection to ensure
consistency, and develop strong implementation
strategies in a collaborative effort. The goals of
this project include the following:
• Compile existing plans and studies to identify
data needs and points of consistency or
confl ict.
• Consult with landowners, jurisdictions,
educational institutions, and other interested
parties and incorporate their input.
• Identify acceptable and feasible uses of land
within the noise and accident potential zones
surrounding an active military airport.
• Develop a strong implementation plan,
fi nancing mechanisms, and potential funding
sources for development rights compensation.
ABOUT LUKE AIR FORCE BASE
Luke AFB was established in 1941 to take
advantage of the then-isolated location and
excellent year-round fl ying weather. Luke AFB’s
aircraft have changed over the years, but since
1983 Luke AFB has been the preeminent F-16
training facility for the Air Force and since 1941
has trained more than 51,000 fi ghter pilots.
Currently, Luke AFB is the largest F-16 training
base in the world, with approximately 175 sorties
per day (which is equivalent to approximately
500 air operations to include touch and goes,
approaches, takeoffs, and landings). Luke AFB,
as well as other bases in Arizona, utilizes the
Barry M. Goldwater Range Complex in Maricopa,
Pima, and Yuma Counties for training missions.
The links between the bases and Goldwater
Range are critical to the quality of the training
and partial determinants of the fl ight paths.
THE PROJECT AREA
Senate Bill 1120 mandates that the areas
within the noise and accident potential
zones be addressed. To ensure the overall logic
and cohesiveness of land use decisions made
in these areas, a larger planning area is
being mapped and considered. The noise
contours and accident potential zones cross
eight jurisdictions, and the planning area will
ultimately encompass areas impacted by base
activities. Firm planning area boundaries have
not been determined at this time.
A key focus of the Compatibility Project is
to facilitate the coordination and collaboration
among the jurisdictions. Since the local
jurisdictions maintain the planning authority to
regulate land use, they will play a key role in the
implementation strategies.
PROJECT ISSUES
As the project team has been meeting with
the jurisdictions and other stakeholders,
several issues have emerged as primary
concerns:
• Safety—particularly within accident potential
zones and in consideration of live ordnance
routes off the southern departure corridor
from Luke AFB
• Protection of Luke AFB’s mission
• Noise—land use compatibility and noise
mitigation
• Development rights compensation in areas
where land use compatibility is an issue
• Sustaining the economic benefi ts associated
with Luke AFB while mitigating negative
impacts
• Funding the implementation strategies that
are generated
The assessment of issues is a continuing
process, and it is expected that additional
stakeholders and considerations will be identifi ed
throughout the various stages of the project.
PROJECT STATUS AND SCHEDULE
everal tasks are currently underway:
• Data collection efforts, including coordination
with local jurisdictions and mapping
• Meetings with West Valley elected offi cials
and planners, Luke AFB representatives, and
other stakeholders
• Beginning the compilation of implementation
tools and strategies
Key tasks related to the implementation
strategies are expected to include the
development of a method for land appraisal,
researching tools for ensuring land use
compatibility, and identifying funding
mechanisms and sources at local, state, and
federal sources.
Overall, critical benchmarks and anticipated
dates for the project include:
• Project re-engagement:
March 2002
• Planning Fair and Stakeholder Summit:
September 2002
S
Seeking Resolution through Collaboration and Implementation
• Alternative scenarios and strategies:
October 2002
• Draft Plan for review:
December 2002
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EFFORT
There are several ways to fi nd information,
provide feedback, or ask questions:
• Visit the Arizona Military Airports Regional
Compatibility Project web site via
www.azcommerce.com
• Contact Deb Sydenham, AICP
Director, Community Planning Offi ce
Arizona Department of Commerce
(602) 280-8114 or debs@azcommerce.com
• Add your name to the mailing list to continue
receiving project bulletins via email or U.S.
mail, through the web site, or by contacting
Deb Sydenham (see above).
• Attend the upcoming Planning Fair,
anticipated to be held in September 2002.
This will be a public open house to present the
project results that are available at that time.
More information on the scheduled date will
be available in future project bulletins and on
the web site.
ARIZONA MILITARY AIRPORTS REGIONAL COMPATIBILITY PROJECT
WESTERN MARICOPA COUNTY/LUKE AIR FORCE BASE