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by Annie Cunningham

When proposed airport zoning regulations threatened property rights for Knox County residents, the county Farm Bureau took the lead in getting answers the community wanted.

More than a year ago, the Knox County Commissioners proposed zoning regulations for the Knox County Airport that would have caused landowners and farmers to tear down buildings and fill-in ponds. Immediately concerned landowners wanted answers and access to their county officials. Knox County Farm Bureau made it happen.

The Knox County FB board held detailed discussions with the three county commissioners and township trustees. The county Farm Bureau also invited county commissioners to informational meetings to keep its members up-to-date and allow members’ voices to be heard by county officials.

"These meetings were well attended. We helped our members get their voices heard, and it really helped," said Susan Brinker, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (OFBF) organization director for Coshocton, Holmes, Knox and Licking counties. "It gave people the one-on-one contact with the commissioners that they wanted."

After meeting with Farm Bureau members and holding a public hearing, the commissioners voted down their first proposal, and offered the landowners a much less restrictive plan.

The new zoning proposal was approved in April and created an 18,000-acre airspace protection zone around the airport. Landowners within the zone are prohibited from building structures that would interfere with landings and takeoffs.

"The zoning regulations that were passed are so much better than the first proposal. I think the commissioners knew that because they voted against their own proposal. The first proposal was too broad," said Nan Still, director of agricultural law information for OFBF. "It’s still not perfect, but it’s something I think our farmers can live with."

The first proposal would have subjected farmers with low-slung livestock buildings and ponds to nuisance provisions. With the new zoning regulations, only those who own property within a narrow strip adjacent to the airport and its takeoff and landing areas would be required to obtain construction permits. This strip encompasses only about 10 percent of the safety zone.

Township zoning inspectors will still control residential permits within the area, and Randy Pore, airport zoning inspector, will handle nonresidential structures within the safety zone.

The original zoning regulations were written in 1996 when the airport had a 3,500-foot runway. Since then, the runway has been extended another 1,500 feet.

"Knox County Farm Bureau was the only group who took the initiative to hold these types of meetings," Brinker said. "The voice of the members was heard, and we saw the results."