The
Published Monthly
Morrisville & Preston
ress
Morrisville, N.C,
April E4,1
Board continuing pians for police HQ
An architectural rendering of the proposed police station in Morrisville.
Airport overlay
raises concern
Town’s former, new Authority
members: Proposal restrictive
By Ron Pago
Not all prc^xjsals offaed by the Raleigh-Durfaam Airport
Authority toward noise abutment are accqjted with open
aims.
Example: The authwity has pn^sed an airport overlay
district for propCTties in the vicinity of Raleigh-Durham In-
lOTiaiional Airport which provides stringent regulations on
new construction. It’s been rejected by Wake County,
Raleigh, Durham, and is now under staff study by the
Town of Morrisville. It is not expected to be proved here
either.
Wade Davis, Morrisville’s re[»esentative on the Airport
Abat^n^t Committee for the past two years, voices strong
opposition to the overlay proj^sal. A former mayor, com
missioner and die town’s first zoning administrates, Davis
said the airport plan, drafted in 1994, has three fundamen
tal requireanents.
The first is a disclosure tatement on all proposed
resktoitial units and ncm-residential facilities, requiring all
jMOSpective purchasers of such prtqrerty to be told that it is
located in an area that will be expo^ to aircraft over
flights and aircraft noise. The inftsmation is to be included
in all potinent p^rs such as sales contracts, promotional
items, the site plaits and deeds.
The second is called an easement which would be re
quired of all ownCTs of new property in areas covaed by
the overlay. Property own»s would grant the Airport
Authority a perpemal right to pass over the {Hoperty and
the right to cause noise, vibrations, odors, vapors, particu-
iMes, smoke, dust, or other effects as may be inherent in
the operation of aircraft of all types.
The third covers acoustical treatments of all such new
buildings to ensure that interior noise levels within the
Iniilding are lower than exterior noise levels resulting from
overflight of aircraft. Increased insulation in roofs, floors
and walls, use of mullipaned windows and doors, and
choice of materials to attain noise reduction also are a part
of the proposal.
"Ihis will surely drive up the costs for a new home,"
Davis said. According to the aiipot’s own residential de
sign ^ide, the cost to sound insulate a typical home near
RDU is placed at $16,171. Davis feels it is an jmne-eded
burden to be placed on the new home buyer.
He also feels the easement is solely sought by the
authority to cover possible lawsuits on any damage to a
home that may result from aircraft flights. "It’s a ridiculous
request No cme but an idiot would sign," he added. "Any
elected officials who votes for it is either stupid or not
seddng re-election."
Davis said he’s beard (q}inions that the State Legislature
should be asked to review Ute Airport Airport’s proposal,
but questiOTs whether members of that body have the right
to detomine individual town zoning legulatioits. "I do feel
that more of the people who are being affected should be
on the committee...like 7oe Citizen,’ and less Airport
Autbrnity memb^” be smd.
Davis told Morrisville commissioners Monday night that
be is resigning as the town’s rep'eseiuative on the Airport
Noise Abatement Conunittee, citing the pressure of busi
ness and outside activities. Davis is involved in a business
venture raising emus to provide food and sundry products.
Sm airport, page 2
By Ron Pago
Exploring die possibility of a
sevoi-acre town campus of associa
ted public buildings, Morrisville’s
Board of Commissitmers Monday
night aulfacwized spending another
$31,490 to continue developing
plans for a pressed police head
quarters to be located near Town
HaU.
A preliminary study bad been
prepa^ by Smith Sirmett Associa
tes, the Raleigh architectural and
planning firm that designed Town
Hall. That study, which cost
$7,500, shows a building architec
turally blending with the Georgian-
colonial ^pearance of the Town
Hall and located at the extreme
west end of the same property. This
town campus plan will allow for fu
ture public buildings to be in-
corpevated into the overall site.
Town Manager David Hodgkins
e^lained that the ctnitinuing study
would, in effect, go to a point
where the town would be able to
advertise for bids. Construction has
not yet been authorized by the
board.
Commissioner Billy Sauls said
despite the fact that tb^e are no
plans as to when the police station
will be built, he felt the town
should move toward complete
plans now. It will be more costly
1^, he said, adding that the "town
is (m solid financial grMmds...there
See BOARD, pago 2
Quieter jets,
tougher rules
muffling noise
But aircraft roar still an issue
as new homes line flight path
Up and away
The Airport Authority's noise officer says the level of aircraft noise has
dropped significantly since American Airlines moved its hub and since new
policies have taken effect. Above, a commercial jet takes off from RDU.
By Ron Pago
We’ve all heard it. It’s that
muffled blur of noise that grows to
a roar as it passes overhead. Some
call it offensive and irritating.
Others just shrug, feeling it’s a part
of living in the age of jet aircraft.
For many years, aircraft noise
was not a major issue at Raleigh-
Durham International Airport due
to low density develojanent in the
area. But the luimber of noise com
plaints increased as the area near
the airport developed and the level
of large jet aircraft activity grew.
Resktoitial growth in Preston and
Morrisville led to a large numbo' of
conplaints frtxn those areas when
noise levels were at their highest.
Today, aircraft noise continues to
command the attention of the
Raleigh-Durham Airpent Authority
even though it is no longer close to
the nuisance it once was.
In 1988, an advisory committee
comprised of citizens from sur
rounding neighborhoods concerned
about aircraft noise began meeting
with local public officials, plaimers
and airpcMt staff. The work of this
groiqp 1^ to the develcpnent a year
later of a 10-mem^r Aircraft
Noise Abatement Committee
(ANAC), which adopted an Air
craft Noise Abatement Policy.
That pcdicy calls for continuous
monitoring of noise abatement
strategies, land-use planning, and
aircraft operating procedures to
minimize the impact of aircraft
noise. ANAC advises the Airport
Authority on ways to implement
the Noise Abatement Policy.
"The success of the program is
shown in th^ noise levels are con
siderably lower today than they
were four or five years ago," ex
plains Armando Tovar, noise of-
fico^ at the authority, a position
which encompasses all phases of
noise monitoring. Two factors are
prominent in tb^ decline, he added,
the noise rule itself and the closing
of American Airlines’ bub opera
tions at Raleigh-Durham Interna
tional Airport.
Today, some six million pas
sengers pass through Raleigh-
Durham AirpcMt annually and some
250,000 flights are recorded, a total
which encompasses all types of air
craft, fiom scheduled airliners and
cargo planes to propeller-driven
aircraft, helicopters, ixivate planes
and U.S. military carriers. Some 15
passengCT airlines use its facilities,
as well as five major cargo carriers.
The 5,000-acre airport has two run-
ways-10,000 feet and 7,500 feet
long-each oriented northeast-
southwest, and a 3,550-foot
southeast-northwest runway used
occasionally for smallCT, propeller-
driven general aviation planes.
While many factors determine
how aircraft noise affects this area,
Tovar points to the jet engine as the
most significant point at which
noise can be minimized. That is
why in 1969 the Federal Aviation
Administration adopted regulaticms
requiring ccmimercial jets to meet
noise standards, he explains.
The FAA rules established three
categories for jet aircraft. Stage 1
jets, such as the original Boeing
707s and McDoimell-Douglas DC-
8s, are the oldest and noisiest air
craft. They have either been retired
from service or redesigned to meet
quieter Stage 2 ex' ultimate Stage 3
standards.
"By 2000, all commercial aircraft
(iterating in the United St^es are
expected to meet the standards of
Stage 3, the quietest category fex
jet aircraft," Tovar says.
When American Airlines with
drew its hub fiom RDU, it took
with it aircraft engines considered
to be among the noisiest in the
business. It had also been making
125 jet operations daily from RDU,
including both landings and take
offs. And these were clustered op
erations, sometimes with as many
as 20 arrivals in 35 minutes.
Sm QUIETER, page 2
Superstore preparing for May 4 opening
GETTING
Shantz of
READY-Mick Rickert and Jeff
Raleigh were busily unloading boxes
last week at Hannaford Superstore at Preston
Corners in preparation fcH* opening day.
Wlku the doors c^n at the new
ll.triiuford Superstore at Preston
Comers May 4, customers will find
an open, uj^cale interior widi such
features as a bar, video rental
area, upscale wine dqitetment and
a pnxluce kiosk where employees
prepare fresh produce in full public
view.
llu* 47,000-squaFe-foot store has
been designed as a model for future
facilities operated by Haimaford
Brothers Co., whose headquarters
.IK m Scarborough, Maine. Man
ager Jim Sbaffo', a Rhode Island
native who lives in Cary, said the
store will cater to the needs of a
bniad base of customers.
Wv are a peo{^-fiiendly opoa-
iioii uhere service is paramount
.tiiil employees have a customer
focus," be said. "Because we are
heavily involved with stores in the
nurih. we are smsitive to die needs
of those frran that area as well as
the MHlth."
The int»ior layout includes 12
checkout counters, with a video de
partment and customer service area
at the frtmt To the right of the
entry area is an open expanse called
the Farmer’s Market where the
kiodc is located. "We have a focus
on perishable products," Shaffer
explained, "and this is the area
where customers can see all of the
produce being jxepped." The right
side of the store ^so includes a
prepared sandwich area, coffee bar,
bakery, pasta and pizza section and
a neighborhood deli. The left side
of the stexe includes the grocery
aisles, frozen foods, dairy, beer and
meats.
Opening day will be marked by a
Sm SUPERSTORE, pag« 2
BULK RATE
POSTAGE PAID
MORRISVIllE, N,C
PERMIT *23
Delivered expressly
to the residents of
Morrisville and Preston