Military Compatibility Areas
In compatibility planning , the term “ Military Compatibility Area ” ( MCA ) is used to formally designate a geographic area where military operations may impact local communities , and conversely , where local activities may affect the military ’ s ability to conduct its mission . An MCA is designated to accomplish the following :
( 1 ) Promote an orderly transition between community and military land uses so that land uses remain compatible .
( 2 ) Protect public health , safety , and welfare . ( 3 ) Maintain operational capabilities of military installations and areas .
( 4 ) Promote an awareness of the size and scope of military training areas to protect areas separate from the actual military installation ( e . g ., critical air space ) used for training purposes .
( 5 ) Establish compatibility requirements within the designated area , such as requirements for sound attenuation and avigation easements .
An MCA delineates a geographic area where strategies are recommended to support compatibility planning and the JLUS goal and objectives . The MCAs are where the majority of the recommended strategies apply . To better reflect the area of interest and focus implementation , several MCAs are further divided into subareas . The five MCAs , one Vertical Obstruction Awareness Area ( VOAA ), and one Military Compatibility Overlay District ( MCOD ) used in the Montgomery‐Maxwell AFB JLUS Recommended Plan are identified below , and several Maxwell AFB subzones are shown and described on the following pages :
• Safety MCA
• BASH MCA
• Noise MCA
• Vertical Obstruction MCA
• Vertical Obstruction Awareness Area
• Gunter Annex MCA
• Maxwell AFB MCOD
MCA 1 : Study Area ( Figure 1 )
This MCA covers regional strategies that apply t ( see Figure 1 ).
MCA 2 : Safety Military Compatibilit
The Safety MCA for Maxwell AFB is illustrated o four subzones in which strategies address the e measures and restrictive covenants or conserva military and willing landowners . In addition , str would facilitate the discouragement of land use wildlife to the area and decrease the risk profile The following subzones are :
• Clear Zone Subzone ,
• Accident Potential Zone I Subzone ,
• Accident Potential Zone II Subzone , and
• Accident Potential Zone‐Landing Zone Su
MCA 3 : BASH Military Compatibilit
The BASH MCA covers a five‐mile radius around shown on Figure 11 — the primary area which av Land uses in this area should not encourage or wildlife activity and / or habitation . Such recom amending the zoning ordinance to discourage la water features and landfills .
MCA 4 : Noise Military Compatibility
The Noise MCA includes all land located off inst the 70 dB noise contours . The 70 dB noise cont comprising mostly utility infrastructure and is lo the base . The 65 dB noise contour impacts land south of the airfield and generally strategies wo potentially sound attenuation measures . Figure Maxwell AFB Noise MCA .
Page 40 Joint Land Use Study Report