OR 84 Adopts the Airport Zoning Ordinance of the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport No. 71-100 ORDINANCE NO. 84
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF COPPELL,
TEXAS, ADOPTING THE "AIRPORT ZONING
ORDINANCE OF THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH
REGIONAL AIRPORT", NUMBER 71 - 100.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COPPELL, TEXAS:
SECTION I. TITLE
This ordinance shall be known as "The City of Coppell's
Adoption of the 'Airport Zoning Ordinance of the Dallas-Fort Worth
Regional Airport"'.
SECTION Z. ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE
There is hereby adopted by the City of Coppell, Texas, that
certain Airport Zoning Ordinance No. 71 - 100, adopted the 16th day
of December, 1971, by the Joint Airport Zoning Board of the Dallas-
Fort Worth Regional Airport, a copy of which is attached hereto.
Provided however, said adoption is subject to such portions thereof
as are hereinafter deleted,. modified or amended.
SECTION 3. CAPTION OR ORDINANCE
The caption of the "Airport Zoning Ordinance of the Dalla[s-
~ort-Worth Regional Airport" is as follows:
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING AND RESTRICTING
THE HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES AND OBJECTS OF
NATURAL GROWTH~ AND OTHERWISE RESTRICTING
THE USE OF PROPERTY ON AND IN THE VICINITY OF
THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH REGIONAL AIRPORT: BY
ESTABLISHING AIRPORT APPROACH ZONES, TRANSI-
TION ZONES, HORIZONTAL ZONES, AND CONICAL
ZONES, AND ESTABLISHING THE BOUNDARIES
THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS OR
CHANGES IN THE RESTRICTIONS AND BOUNDARIES
OF SUCH ZONES; DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS USED
HEREIN; REFERRING TO THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH
REGIONAL AIRPORT ZONING MAP WHICH IS INCORPO-
RATED IN AND MADE A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE;
PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT; ESTABLISHING A
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT; PROVIDING FOR JUDICIAL
REVIEW; AND IMPOSING PENALTIES.
DULY PASSED by the City Council of the City of Coppell,
Texas, this /~'~ day of ~'~ , 1972.
H S tt Ma
en co , yor'
ATTEST:
ORDINANCE NO. 71 - 100
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING AND RESTRICTING THE HEIGHT OF STRUCTURES AND
OBJECTS OF NATURAL GROWTH, AND OTHERWISE RESTRICTING THE USE OF PROP-
ERTY ON AND IN THE VICINITY OF THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH REGIONAL AIRPORT:
BY ESTABLISHING AIRPORT APPROACH ZONES, TRANSITION ZONES, HORIZONTAL
ZONES, AND CONICAL ZONES, AND ESTABLISHING THE BOUNDARIES THEREOF;
PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES IN THE RESTRICTIONS AND BOUNDA-
RIES OF SUCH ZONES; DEFINING CERTAIN TERMS USED HEREIN; REFERRING TO THE
DALLAS-FORT WORTH REGIONAL AIRPORT ZONING MAP WHICH IS INCORPORATED
IN AND MADE A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT; ESTAB-
LISHING A BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT; PROVIDING FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW; AND
IMPOSING PENALTIES.
This ordinance is adopted pursuant to the authority conferred by the Airport Zoning Act,
Article 46e, V.A.C.S., as amended by all subsequent legislation. it is hereby Found that
an airport hazard endangers the lives and property of users of the Dallas-Fort Worth Reglonal
Airport and occupants of land in its vicinity, and also~ if of the obstruction type, in effect
reduces the size of the area available for the landing, taking-off and maneuvering of air-
craft, thus tending to destroy or impair the utility of the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport
and the public investment therein. Accordingly, it is declared: (I) that the creation or
establishment of an airport hazard is a public nuisance and an injury to the region served by
the Dallas-Fort Worth ReglonaJ Airport; (2) that it is necessary in the interest of the pubJic
health, public safety and general welfare that the creation or establishment of airport haz-
ards be prevented; and, (3) that the prevention of these hazards should be accomplished, to
the extent legally posslb~e, by the exercise of the police power without compensation. It
is Further declared that both the prevention of the creation or establishment of airport hazards
and the elimination, removal, alteratlon, mitigation, or marking and lighting of existing
airport hazards are public purposes For which polltlcal subdivlsjons may raise and expend
public funds and acquire ~and or interest in land.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD OF THE DALLAS°FORT WORTH
REFIONAL AIRPORT LOCATED IN DALLAS AND TARRANT COUNTIES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION I: SHORT TITLE
This ordinance shall be known and may be cited as the "Airport Zoning Ordinance of the
Dallas- Fort Worth Regional Airport."
SECTION I1: DEFINITIONS
(1) ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES means those agencies which have the responsibility For
the administration and enforcement of this ordinance.
(2) AIRPORT means the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport, located in Dallas and Tarrant
Counties, Texas°
(3) AIRPORT ELEVATION means the established elevation of the highest point on the usable
landing area, said elevation being 606 feet above mean sea level.
(4)
(5)
(7)
(s)
(1o)
(11)
(12)
c13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
AIRPORT HAZARD means any structure, tree, installation, electronic and/or visual
interference, or use of land or water which obstructs the alrspace required for the
Flight of ah'craft in Jandlng or taking-off at the airport or is otherwise hazardous to
such landing or taking-off of aircraft.
AIRPORT HAZARD AREA means any area of land or water under the imaginary surfaces
as defined in Section IV upon which an airport hazard might be established if not pre-
vented as provided in these regulations.
AIRPORT ZONE means the space between the earth's surface and the imaginary surfaces
as defined in Section IV.
BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT means a board consisting of 5 members appointed by the Joint
Airport Zoning Board as provided by Texas State Law, specifically Vernon's Annotated
Civil Statutes, Article 46e - 10.
HEIGHT - for the purpose of determlnjng the height llmTts in all zones set forth in this
ordinance and shown on the Zoning Map, the datum shall be measured in mean sea
level elevation unless otherwise specified.
INSTALLATION means any electronic or visual interference that is not included within
the definition of "structure" or "tree."
JOINT AIRPORT ZONING BOARD means a board having as members two (2) represent-
atives appointed by each political subdivision participating in its creation and in addition
a chairman elected by a majority of the members so appointed.
NON-CONFORMING USE means any structure, tree, or use of land which is lawfully
in existence at the time the regulation is prescribed ~n the Ordinance or an amendment
thereto becomes effective and does not then meet the requirement of said regulation.
PERSONS means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association,
joint stock association, or body politic, and includes a trustee, receiver, assignee,
administrator, executor, guardian~ or other representative.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION means any municipality, city, town, village or county.
RUNWAY means the paved surface of an airport designated for the landing and taking-
off of aircraft.
STRUCTURE means an object permanent, or temporarily constructed or installed by man,
including, but without limitation, buildings, towers, smokestacks and overhead trans-
mission lines.
TREE means any object o{: natural growth.
ZONING MAP means "The Hazard Zoning Maps Of The Joint Airport Zoning Board
For The Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport."
SECTION II1: INCORPORATION OF HAZARD ZONING MAPS
The Hazard Zoning Maps For the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport, prepared by the
engineering and architectural Firm of Tippetts-Abbett-McCarthy-Stratton, consisting of
20 pages and dated December, 1970, is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part
hereof for all purposes.
SECTION IV: IMAGINARY SURFACES
The Following imaginary surfaces are established to implement the provlslons of this ordinance.
The dimensions, elevations above mean sea level, slopes and radii applicable to the imagln-
ary surfaces shall be as shown on the Zoning Map.
(a) Primary Surface - A surface longitudinally centered on a runway, and extending
beyond the ends of the runway. The elevation of any point on the primary sur-
face is the same as the elevation of the nearest point on the runway centerllne.
(b) Horizontal Surface - A horizontal plane surface 150 feet above the established
airport elevation, the perimeter of which is constructed by swlngln;i arcs of specl-
fled radii from the center of each end of the primary surface of each runway and
connecting the adjacent arcs by lines tangent to those arcs.
(c) Conical Surface - A surface extending outward and upward From the entire peri-
meter, of the horizontal surface, at a specified dope and For a specified distance.
(d) Approach Surface - A surface Iongltudlnally centered on the extended runway
centerline and extending outward and upward from each end of the primary surface
for a speckfled distance at a specified slope, and expands its horizontal dimen-
sion uniformly to a specified width.
(e) Transitional Surfaces - A surface extending outward and upward at right angles to
the runway centerllne and the runway centerllne extended at a specified slope
From the sides of the primary surface and from the sides of the approach surfaces.
Transitional surfaces For those portions of the conical surfaces extend a specified
distance measured horizontally from the edge of the approach surface end at right
angles to the runway centerline.
SECTION V: HEIGHT LIMITATIONS
Except as otherwise may be provided in these regulations, no structure, tree, or installatlon
shall be erected, altered, allowed to grow, or be maintained wlthin the Airpart Hazard
Zonlng Area which wilj be above the imaginary surfaces as established by and shown on the
Zoning Map.
SECTION VI: USE RESTRICTIONS
Notwithstanding any other provision of these regulations, no use may be made of land or
water nor installation placed on land or water within the Airport Hazard Area that will cre-
ate interference with radio communication between the Airport and Aircraft; or that will
create interference wlth any air navigation Facility, airport visual approach or landlng aid,
aircraft arresting device, or meteorological device; or that will result in glare in the eyes
of flyers using the airport but this prohibition shall not include momentary glare or glare
from vertlcal or downward reflecting windows or glass panels used in the construction of
structures; or that will impair visibility in the vicinity of the airport, attract birds, or that
will otherwise endanger the landing, taking-off or maneuvering of aircraft operating
3
through the facilities of the airport. ' No other airport or landing field shall be constructed
within the airport hazard area.
SECTION VII: EXISTING NON-CONFORMITIES
Structures, trees or installations existing prior to the effective date of these regulatlons
which do not conform to the requirements hereof shall be considered as legal non-conforming
uses. These regulations shall not be construed to require the removal, lowering, change or
alteration of any legal non-conforming use structure, tree or installation. A permit shall
be required For a legal non-conforming use and shall be issued on application of the owner
or agent accompanied by affidavit that the use, structure, tree or installation was in exist-
ence on the effective date ot: these regulations. Applicatlons for permits For non-conforming
users shall be made within 180 days from the effectlve date of these regulations.
SECTION VIII: PERMITS REQUIRED
Before any new structure or use which could be defined as an airport hazard under this
ordinance may be constructed or established and before any such existing use or structure
may be increased in height or otherwise altered, a permit to do so must be secured by the
owner involved or his agent. All permit applications shall be made to the administrative
agency having jurisdiction, or their designated representatives under Section XII hereof.
In the event that any administrative agency issues o permit erroneously al lowTrig the begin-
ning of erection of any structure or tree, said permit shall not constitute a variance or be
construed in any manner to allow any person to penetrate the imaginary surfaces established.
It will remain incumbent on the sponsor, builder, property owner or their agents, as the case
may be~ to prevent the creation of any object that will cause an airport hazard within the
meaning of this ordinance. When said permits are requested for construction and/or alter-
ation within the city limits of a municipality the administrative agency having iurlsdlction
shall be the municipality itself and the county administrative agency shall have no juris-
diction within the city limits ot: munlcipallties.
SECTION IV: NOTICF TO FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
Nothing in these regulations shai l be construed as relieving any owner, sponsor, or agent
from the requirement for fillng a notice of proposed construction or alteration with the ap-
propriate Federal Aviation Administration Authority.
SECTION X: VARIANCES
Any person desiring to erect any structure or increase the height of any structure, or permit
the growth of any tree, or otherwise use his property in violation of these regulations may
appiy to the Board of Adjustment for a variance from the zoning regulations in question.
Such variances shall be allowed where a literal application or enforcement of the regula-
tions would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and the relief granted would
not be contrary to the public interest but do substantial justice and be in accordance with
the spirit of these regulations; provided that any variances allowed shall be subject to any
reasonable conditions that the Board of Adjustment may deem necessary to effectuate the
purposes of these regulations.
4
SECTION XI: HAZARD MARKING AND LIGHTING
Any permit granted under these regulations may, if such action is deemed advisable to
effectuate the purposes of these regulations and reasonable in the circumstances, be so
cond~tioned as to require the owner of the structure, tree or installation jn question to
permit the proper authority to ~nstal l, operate and maintain thereon such markers and
I~ghts, as the Board may f~nd necessary to indicate the presence of the Airport Hazard.
SECTION XII: ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES
The admjnjstratlon and enforcement of all regulations adopted by the Joint A~rport Zoning
Board }s vested jn the governing bodies of each of the political sub-d~vis~ons represented
on the Board, and who have adopted the regulations each respectively by ordinance.
Each pel~tlcal subdjvlslon shall:
(1) Establish ~ts own adm~nistrotlve and enforcement agency; or
(2) Designate another poJltlcaJ sub-d~visjon to admlnjster and enforce these regula-
tions in its behalf; or
(3) Request the Joint Airport Zoning Board to designate an agency to act in this
capedty ~n ~ts behalf.
SECTION Xlll: RULE OF PROCEDURE
The Joint Airport Zoning Board shall adopt Rules of Procedure to govern its actions and to
inform permit applicants and administrative agencies and officials of the procedures required
in connection with issuance of permits.
SECTION XIV: BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
(1) There is hereby created a Board of Adjustment to have and exerdse the following
powers:
(a) To hear and deride appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination
made in the enforcement of these regulations.
(b) To hear and decide special exceptions to the terms of these regulations upon which
such Board of Adiustment may be required to pass by subsequent regulations.
(c) To hear and decide specific variances.
(2)
The Board of Adjustment shall consist of five (5) members, each to be appointed for
a term of two (2) years and removable for cause upon written charges and after pub-
I~c hearing. All vacancies shall be filled by appointment of new members by the
Joint Airport Zoning Board. The Chairman of the Board of Adjustment will be elected
by the members and from the members of the Board of Adjustment.
(3)
The Board of Adjustment shall adopt rules for its governance and procedure in harmony
with the provisions of these regulations. Mee rings of the Board of Adjustment shall
be held at the call of the Chairman and at such times as the Board of Adjustment shall
determine. The Chairman, or in his absence the Acting Chairman, may administer
oaths and compel the attendance of wltnesses. All hearings of the Board of Adjustment
shall be publjc. The Board of Adjustment shall keep Minutes of its proceedings,
showing the vote of each member upon each question, or jf absent or failing to vote,
indicating such fact, and shall keep records of its examinations and other offlcja[
actions, all of which shall immediately be filed in the office of the Board of Adjust-
ment, and shall immediately be filed in the office of the Board of Adjustment, and
shall be a public record.
SECTION XV: APPEALS
(1) Any person aggrieved, or taxpayer affected, by any decision of an Administrative
Agency made in its adminstration of airport zoning regulations adopted under this Act,
or any governing body of a political subdivision, or any joint airport zoning board,
which is of the opinion that a decision of such an adminstratlve agency is an improper
application of airport zoning regulations of concern to such governing body or board,
may appeal to the Board of Adjustment authorized to hear and decide appeals from the
decisions of such administrative agency.
(2) All appeals taken under this Section must be taken within a reasonable time, as provided
by the rules of the bard of Adjustment, by filing with the Administrative Agency and
with the Board of Adjustment a notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof. The
Administrative Agency shall forthwith transmit to the Board of Adjustment all the papers
constituting the record upon which the action appealed from was taken.
(3) An appeal shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless
the Administrative Agency certified to the Board of Adjustments, after the notice of ap-
peal has been filed with it, that by reason of the facts stated in the certificate a stay
would, in its opinion, cause imminent peril to llfe or property. In such case, proceed-
ings shall not be stayed otherwise than by order of the Board of Adjustment on notice
to the Administrative Agency and on due cause shown.
(4) The Board of Adjustment shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of the appeal, give
public notice and due notice to the parties in interest, and decide the same within a
reasonable time. Upon hearing, any party may appeal in person or by agent or by
attorney.
(5) The Board of Adjustment may, in conformity with the provisions of these regulations,
reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or modify, the order, requirement, decision, or
determination as ought to be made, and to that end shall have all the powers of the
Administrative Agency.
(6) The Board of Adjustment shaJi make written findings of Fact and conclusions of law,
giving the facts upon which it acted and its tegal conclusions from such facts in
reversing, or affirming, or modifying any order, requirement, decision or determin-
ation which comes before it under the provisions of these regulations.
(7) The concurring vote of four (4) members of the Board of Adjustment shall be necessary
to reverse any order, requirement, decision, or determination of the Administrative
6
Agency or to decide ~n favor of the applicant on any matter upon which jt is required
to pass under these regulations or to effect any variation in these regulations.
SECTION XVh JUDICIAL REVIEW
Any person aggrieved or taxpayer affected by any decision of the Board of Adjustment,
or any governing body of a peJ~ti,cal subdivision or the Joint Airpert Zoning Board or Ad-
m~nlstrotive Agency which is of the opln~on that a decision of the Board of Adjustment is
illegal may, w~thln ten (10) days after the decision ~s filed jn the office of the Board, pre-
sent a verified petition to a Court of Competent Jurisdiction for relief jn a manner as pro-
vided jn Article 46e - 11(1), Texas Revised Cjvll Statutes.
SECTION XVIh ENFORCEMENT AND REMEDIES
In addition, the political subdivision or agency adopting these zoning regulations may
institute in any Court of competent jurisdiction, an action to prevent, restrain, correct or
abate any violation of these regulations or enforcement, and may be granted such relief,
by way of injunction as may be proper under all the facts and circumstances of the case.
SECTION XVIIh PENALTIES
Each violation of this ordinance or of any regulation, order, or ruling promulgated hereunder
shall constitute a misdemeanor and be punishable by a fine of not more than S200.00, and
each day a violation continued to exist shall constitute a separate offense. Jurisdiction
for any offense providing a criminal penalty hereunder shall lie in the municipal court in
the municipality in which the violation occurs; however, if the offense in an area not in-
corporated within a municipality, jurisdiction shall lle in the justice of the peace court of
the precinct in which the offense occurs.
SECTION XIX: CONFLICTING REGULATIONS
Where these regulations impose a greater or more stringent restriction upon the use of land,
height of a structure or tree, or the establishing or malntaMing of any other airport haz-
ard as hereln defined, than is imposed by other ordinances or regulations applicable to the
same area or location, the provisions of these regulations shall govern and prevail.
SECTION XX: SEVERABILITY
If any of the provisions of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances is held invalid, such invalldlty shall not affect other provisions or appli-
cations of the Ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid provision or ap-
plication~ and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable.
SECTION XXh AMENDMENTS
This Ordinance may be amended or changed by the Joint Airport Zoning Board for the
Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airpert except as otherwise p~ovided by the Airport Zoning
Act, Article 46e, V.A.C.S., after a public hearing in relation thereto ~t which pertles
7
in intent and citizens shall have an'opportunity to be heard. At least fifteen (15) days -
notice of the hearing shall be published in an official paper, or a paper of general clrcul-
atlon, in the political subdivision in which is located the airport hazard area.
SECTION XXII: EFFECTIVE DATE
WHERFAS, the immedlate operation of the provisions of this Ordinance is necessary for
the preservation of the public health, public safety, and general welfare, an EMERGENCY
is hereby declared to exist, and this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and
after publication and posting as required by law and its passage by the Joint Airport Zoning
Board.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of December, 1971, by the Joint Airport Zoning
Board of the Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Airport.
Attest:
/s/Robert H. Power
Chairman
/s/Robert L. Wegner
8