Posts Tagged ‘encroachment’

The South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority is moving ahead with two projects to preserve Ellsworth Air Force Base and its tremendous economic impact in the western portion of the state. Since the base narrowly averted closure in the last BRAC round, the authority has been purchasing properties surrounding the installation’s airfield to reduce encroachment, reported the Rapid City Journal. A low-income housing project now under construction will offer a new housing option for some of those residents …

Business and elected leaders in eastern Washington are going all out to save Fairchild AFB from closure in a pending BRAC round, focusing on landing the KC-46A, the next-generation aerial-refueling tanker. Greater Spokane Incorporated, the local economic development agency, recently took a delegation to the Pentagon to discuss the installation’s strengths with Air Force officials, reported the Seattle Times. The main challenge for Spokane is limiting growth outside Fairchild, which is in a fast-growing area 10 miles west of the city …

The state of Florida will have $4.6 million to spend on programs supporting its defense installations in the fiscal year starting July 1, a funding stream which will allow the state to continue its longstanding support for the military. The state budget signed last month by Gov. Rick Scott allocates $2.6 million for Florida’s three primary grant programs, an amount which was exceeded only once since the beginning of fiscal year 2008-2009 …

The Defense Department, Navy and developer of a proposed 83-turbine wind farm located near Naval Air Station Kingsville reached agreement last week on a series of actions to mitigate the potential for the project to interfere with flight operations at the installation situated on the Texas Coastal Bend. The deal alleviates the fears of Navy officials about the likelihood that proposed wind farms could affect installations across the state …

The Navy is gathering support from 10 southern Maryland counties surrounding Patuxent River Naval Air Station to participate in an assessment of land uses that are compatible with the Navy test center. The joint land use study, which could begin in September, would cover the counties within range of testing conducted at Pax River and could factor into deliberations over upcoming BRAC rounds, reported Delmarvanow.com. The JLUS may include recommendations on whether wind turbines are a compatible land use in southern Maryland. A separate study is evaluating the impact on military radar of a proposed wind farm in Somerset County located across Chesapeake Bay from Pax River.

In an attempt to ensure the future of Fairchild Air Force Base, Spokane County commissioners last week approved new land use rule to protect the eastern Washington installation from urban development. The commissioners said the zoning code protections also could help the base attract the next generation of refueling tankers the Air Force is acquiring. The rules require noise insulation in new homes and notice to people who are considering moving into the defined military influence area with 65 decibels or more of jet noise …

The deputy commander of Joint Base San Antonio warned the city of Selma, Texas, that a proposed subdivision of 400 homes would exceed the density limits for the accident potential zone at Randolph AFB. If the 95-acre development goes ahead, the resulting incompatible land use could jeopardize future missions at Randolph, said Col. Robert Bridgford, reported the San Antonio Express-News. Bridgford recommended the city council lower the density of homes in the neighborhood plan. The city administrator for Selma, located just outside of San Antonio, plans to meet with Bridgford before the city council approves a specific use permit allowing the development’s proposed density.

The city of Virginia Beach and the commonwealth of Virginia have undertaken a vigilant effort to reduce encroachment of Naval Air Station Oceana since the 2005 round of base closures and, as a result, the recent crash of an F/A-18 based there into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach should not renew calls to close the Navy’s East Coast master jet base, according to local officials. After the BRAC Commission called for the community to address urban development surrounding the base, “the commonwealth got the message, the city got the message and they have done everything they have promised …

In the wake of last week’s crash of an F/A-18 Hornet from NAS Oceana into a Virginia Beach apartment complex, the city council Tuesday reiterated the community’s support for the base. Council members passed a resolution “affirming the city’s strong support that the Naval Air Station Oceana remain the East Coast master jet base,” reported WAVY.com. The council also urged the area’s congressional delegation to continue its support. Since the 2005 round of base closures, Virginia Beach, the commonwealth of Virginia and the Navy have carried out a systematic program to stem encroachment at Oceana.

Energy developers are considering building dozens of wind farms and solar power plants in Arizona to meet the growing demand in that state, as well as in California, for renewable energy. Due to the potential for conflicts with military testing and training, projects need to be reviewed by DOD, a process made easier last year when the department created the Energy Siting Clearinghouse …