FAA Wants 178 Square Mile No Build Zone For Houston Airports

Houston, TX (AHN) - The classic battle between airports and residents continues to be waged, with Houston as the new battleground.

The Federal Aviation Administration and city officials are pushing for a ban on future residential constructions near the city's three gateways to prevent the loss of future federal grants. If approved, the proposal would place three concentric levels of land totaling 178 square miles of the George Bush Intercontinental and William P. Hobby Airports and Ellington Field.

The first level bans the construction of homes, hospitals, educational institutions, cinemas and other noise-sensitive institutions near the 3 gateways. The second level permits new construction provided the homes and edifices use soundproofing materials.

Land near the third level would carry no ban on construction, but future residents and building owners must be made aware of the presence of the three airports prior to their construction activities.

Mike Nicely, manager of FAA's Texas Airport Development Office, explained the rationale behind the three proposed tiers. "If incompatible land uses are allowed to develop close to the airport, people are impacted by noise...," Nicely explained to the Houston Chronicle.

That problem is shared by many areas near airport, like London's Heathrow Airport where residents and groups like Greenpeace have staged demonstrations to air their opposition to the expansion of the international gateway due to its effect on the environment, particularly noise pollution levels.