By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
February 7, 2009 - 08:19 p.m. EST

CARO — As more and more wind turbines and telecommunication towers go up, it is more important than ever to protect the air space around airports.

Over the last 10 years, more than $4 million has been put into the Tuscola Area Airport west of Caro.

“It is important to protect that investment, and to broaden its protection,” said Michigan Department of Transportation - Airports Division Zoning Specialist Linn Smith. “And, be able to do that while looking to the future too.”

Airports can be protected by the Height and Land Use Protection Act, the Michigan Tall Structure Act and the Zoning Enabling Act.

According to Smith, an act has to be in place to protect the airport and to help assure grant compliance when funds are available.

By having a zoning act for the airport, a clear radius can be set, structure height can be set, help with avoidance of overlapping and inconsistencies with local zoning ordinances is available, and the measure could contain a method of allowing variances.

“They (Huron County) were caught off guard when wind turbines came in,” said Smith. “The turbines in Ubly will affect the future approach surface of that airport. We don’t what that to happen here.

“You’d better believe Consumers Power and Wolverine Power are looking you over because you have good, sustained winds here too.”

Controlling the zoning around the airport isn’t just for the good of the airport, but also, for those who live near it.

Airport Manager Eric Engler explained how an airplane had recently missed its approach, had to readjust and turn around because of bad weather.

Zoning is a buffer in emergencies, he noted.

One of the first steps in zoning is establishing a zoning commission, developing a plan and holding public hearings.