The Board of Adjustments (BOA) voted unanimously to deny a request for a conditional use permit (CUP) to operate a private airstrip at 2245 Watts Ferry Road following a hearing on Sept. 14. People living in the area of the proposed airstrip voiced opposition to allowing someone to operate an aviation business in a rural community.
The idea of airplanes flying in and out of a rural area where people live was troubling to them because of the noise and potential dangers that would be created by this business.
“My biggest concern is when these planes are taking off or landing, there’s no way they’re going to not be over top of my house at a very low level,” said Jeff Greenwell, who lives on Watts Ferry Road. He and others also raised safety concerns if there was an airplane crash.
In its motion to deny the CUP, the BOA cited noise, the fire dangers created by the proposed use and more houses being in this area since the airstrip was used by the prior property owner as reasons for denial.
Jedidiah and Ashley Edenstrom (Woodford Aviation, LLC) applied for the CUP to operate an aviation-related business on a portion of their property, which is zoned A-1 agriculture.
Jedidiah Edenstrom said there is an existing airstrip on the 30-acre property formerly known as Seldom Scene Airport, which he and his wife purchased five years ago. He said former property owners Paul and Lindy Huber did not have a CUP to operate as an airstrip. “We’re not going to add anything new or change anything with the airstrip; we’re just wanting to operate as an airport, private,” he told the BOA.
Joe Graviss said he lives nearby on Grassy Springs Road and told the BOA that Paul Huber never intended for his airstrip to become a commercial business. Instead, it was a hobby. He urged the BOA to deny the CUP to “protect the majority that are at risk,” including horse farms and anyone living in the area.
Edenstrom told the BOA that no conditions were included with their application because the FFA would limit them to day-use operations and single-engine airplanes. He said most of the traffic generated by the aviation-related business would be air traffic before he added, “Small single-engine airplanes create little noise.”
In the future, Edenstrom said a pilot wants to offer private flights by reservation only for tours over the river and horse farms. “There are, on average in Kentucky, approximately 200 good flying days for small planes,” he said.
Edenstrom said an aviation business is an opportunity for his family to earn income from their land, where they are building a house and live. “So nobody in here would be affected more than us by the operations of our airstrip,” he said.
Habitat house
The BOA approved a 20-foot front-yard setback variance at 92 Virginia Avenue, so Woodford Habitat for Humanity can build a single-family house on the corner lot.