Background

Prior to the opening of the then Southwest Florida Regional Airport (RSW) in 1983, commercial air service was provided to Southwest Florida at Page Field. The growth experienced in the Southwest Florida area during the 1970’s brought about increased air traffic and passenger activity beyond the capabilities of Page Field. Limited capacity and incompatible land use on adjacent land drove the need for a new airport facility.

 

One key reason RSW was sited at the current location was the need to protect citizens of Lee County from aircraft noise. In an effort to minimize the long term impacts of aircraft noise at the new facility, the Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) sponsored a Federal Aviation Regulations(FAR) Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study. Following the approval of the study in 1990, land use control measures, including Airport Noise Zones, were developed and incorporated into the Lee County Comprehensive Plan and the Land Development Code.

 

Since that time, the LCPA has completed a master plan which includes the addition of a parallel runway at RSW. A subsequent FAR Part 150 Study Update (Part 150 Update) identified an expanded overlay zone to maintain off-airport land use compatibility with the operation of this future runway. The Part 150 Update was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on February 1, 1995 (Resolution #95-02-09) and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration on November 28, 1995.

 

As required by Policy 32.2.5 of the Lee Plan Transportation Element, the Lee County Port Authority incorporated the proposed Airport Noise Zones recommended in the 1995 Part 150 Update into the Lee County Comprehensive Plan and the Land Development Code.

 

In September 2005, the Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) submitted an application for a Comprehensive Plan (Lee Plan) Amendment related to the Airport Noise Zones. The application was subsequently reviewed by county staff. On June 26, 2006, the LCPA, presented the proposed amendment before the Local Planning Agency (LPA). The LPA is a citizen advisory board whose members have the responsibility to review changes to the Lee Plan and to regulations that affect the use of land. The LPA makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) concerning transmittal and adoption of proposed amendments. At the meeting, the LPA recommended transmittal of the amendment to the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The next step will be a hearing before the BOCC that will result in a formal vote to transmit, transmit as amended, or not transmit the amendment to the DCA. This hearing is expected to occur in December 2006.