ISSUE
LU‐3
The Wayne County Zoning Ordinance has an Airport Height Overlay that
better describes the dimensions of each of the imaginary surfaces and how
height regulations are governed in relation to their distance from Seymour
Johnson AFB. However, the overlay is only included on the Official Zoning
Map, which is not included as part of the electronic zoning ordinance. The
County’s webpage provides some interactive mapping, including zoning, but
some of the features, including the map legend, do not work properly,
making the data shown on the map unusable. People who wish to view the
Official Zoning Map and locations of the Airport Overlay District must go to
the County’s planning department during business hours.
Need for Enhanced Zoning Regulations specific to
Seymour Johnson AFB Airfield Imaginary Surfaces
Height restrictions for areas surrounding Seymour
Johnson AFB are incorporated in City of Goldsboro
zoning regulations by reference but there is no
explanation of the imaginary surfaces, heights associated
with each, or how they are applied. Though the Wayne
County Zoning Regulations include imaginary surfaces,
there is a reliance on FAA Obstruction Evaluations for
determining compliance with height requirements which
only address structures greater than 199 feet. This may
be insufficient for areas in close proximity to Seymour
Johnson AFB.
Existing Tools
Unified Facilities Criteria 3-260-01 – Airfield and Heliport Planning
and Design
The DOD United Facilities Criteria has many important applications for land
around active runways. Chiefly among them, it establishes dimensions and
heights for imaginary surfaces associated with different types of runways.
These imaginary surfaces are created to reduce impacts to navigable airspace
and limit heights of buildings, structures, and plants that could cause vertical
obstruction hazards for pilots and aircraft.
Compatibility Assessment
Height restrictions for areas surrounding Seymour Johnson AFB are
incorporated in the City of Goldsboro Zoning Ordinance by reference but
there is no explanation of the imaginary surfaces, heights associated with
each, or how they are applied. The City’s zoning ordinance has an entire
section in it for a Noise Overlay District and an Accident Potential Zone
related to flight operations at Seymour Johnson AFB, but only has one small
reference to the height limitations associated with the Base. While it is
important that the height regulations within the City are based on DOD and
FAA standards, it is not useful for land owners, developers, or other people
viewing the zoning ordinance to see that there are height regulations, but no
description of what they are. The zoning ordinance would be more beneficial
for users if it had an article devoted to the imaginary surfaces, and a
description of what each height restriction is, or inclusion of the imaginary
surfaces and DOD recommendations as an appendix to the ordinance.
Background Report
City of Goldsboro Zoning Ordinance
Section 5.2.7 of the Goldsboro Zoning Ordinance is titled “Special Seymour
Johnson Air Force Base and Goldsboro‐Wayne Municipal Airport Height
Regulations and Limitations”. This section states:
No structure shall exceed the applicable height limitations
established by the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base “Air
Installation Compatibility Use Zone” (AICUZ) Study. The Air
Force AICUZ height restrictions are based on those contained
in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulation Part 77,
and are documented in the U.S. Department of Defense
Page 5.14‐11