Open House, Presentation, and Public Hearing for Crystal Airport's Draft Zoning Ordinance

NOTICE OF PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD AND PUBLIC HEARING FOR DRAFT CRYSTAL AIRPORT ZONING ORDINANCE 

The Joint Airport Zoning Board (JAZB) for Crystal Airport is developing an Airport Zoning Ordinance for land uses in the vicinity of the Airport (Draft Airport Zoning Ordinance). The goal is to develop a zoning ordinance that achieves a reasonable level of safety while considering compatible community development. The zoning is being conducted as required by Minnesota Statutes 360.061 – 360.074.  

  The Draft Airport Zoning Ordinance would:  

• Limit the height of structures and vegetation out to approximately 1.5 miles from the outer boundaries of the Airport. In most cases, however, the airport zoning height limitations would be less restrictive than maximum heights allowed in the applicable municipal zoning code.  

• Regulate certain land uses as described below:  

• Prohibit in JAZB Land Use Zone 1 the development of buildings, other structural hazards, and land uses that create assemblies of people. JAZB Land Use Zone 1 is fully contained to airport-owned property and off-airport property guided to be non-occupant Public/Semi-Public open space. Off-airport property contained in JAZB Land Use Zone 1 is in the City of Brooklyn Park.  

• Prohibit in JAZB Land Use Zone 2 land uses that (i) create or cause interference with the operations of radio or electronic facilities on the Airport or with radio or electronic communications between the Airport and aircraft, (ii) make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between Airport lights and other lights, (iii) result in glare in the eyes of pilots using the Airport, (iv) impair visibility in the vicinity of the Airport, (v) are deemed a “hazard” to air navigation by the Federal Aviation Administration or Minnesota Department of Transportation, or (vi) otherwise endanger the landing, taking off, or maneuvering of aircraft. Off-airport property contained in JAZB Land Use Zone 2 is in the cities of Crystal, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, and New Hope.  

  Maps in the Draft Airport Zoning Ordinance show the precise boundaries for application of the Draft Airport Zoning Ordinance and the associated proposed restrictions. A summary map showing the proposed JAZB Land Use Zones 1 and 2 is shown on the reverse side of this notice.  

THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD ON THE DRAFT AIRPORT ZONING ORDINANCE WILL COMMENCE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2023, AND CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023.   

 During this period, written comments will be accepted and must be addressed to:  

 Secretary to the Crystal Joint Airport Zoning Board c/o Metropolitan Airports Commission  

6040 28th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55450  

Comments can also be emailed to CrystalJAZB@mspmac.org. 

A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DRAFT AIRPORT ZONING ORDINANCE IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2023, AT THE CRYSTAL ROOM AT THE CRYSTAL COMMUNITY CENTER, 4800 DOUGLAS DR. N. CRYSTAL. THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BEGIN AT 6:00 P.M. AND LAST UNTIL ALL PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD HAVE BEEN HEARD. AN OPEN HOUSE WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THE PUBLIC HEARING STARTING AT 4:30 P.M. FOLLOWED BY A PUBLIC PRESENTATION FROM 5:30 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M.  

 Copies of the Draft Airport Zoning Ordinance will be available for review beginning on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at the following locations: the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s Main Office, 6040 28th Avenue South, Minneapolis; the City Halls of Crystal, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, New Hope, and Robbinsdale. Further information about the Draft Airport Zoning Ordinance, including a more detailed summary and map, along with an electronic copy of the draft document that can be downloaded for review, is available on the MAC website at: https://metroairports.org/documents. 

 For further information about the public comment period, the open house, or the public hearing, please email CrystalJAZB@mspmac.org.