Civilian, military coexistence focus of Enterprise land use study meeting

ENTERPRISE — Civilian communities need to grow and the military needs to train. How those two “needs” can can coexist was the purpose of a third and final Joint Land Use Study Meeting in Enterprise on Thursday evening.

Scott Farmer is the community development director for the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, and he outlined the mission and goals of the study authorized by Congress in 1985.

The focus of these public meetings is to present the Joint Land Use Study document, which includes the study background, compatibility analysis, recent compatibility efforts and compatibility tools recommendations, Farmer said. The JLUS document also includes written narrative and maps displaying the impacts associated in these areas and discussions on recommendations that may be used to guide local jurisdictions in future implementation efforts.

The JLUS program is designed to address cooperative land use planning between military installations and surrounding communities so that future community growth and development are compatible with the training and operational mission of the installation, Farmer said. “It also seeks ways to reduce the operational impacts on adjacent land.”

The primary areas addressed in the local JLUS program are areas adjacent to Fort Rucker and the outlying aviation facilities in Barbour, Coffee, Dale, Geneva and Houston counties Parker told the group. “We want to foster increased communications between the base, regional governments and civilian communities,” he said. “Communication is a big key in this process.” Representing Coffee County on the JLUS Committee are Commissioner Kim Ellis and county engineer Randy Tindell. Representing the city of Enterprise on the committee are City Council President Tommy Johnson and Ray Bickley, city engineer.

Regional stakeholders, including adjacent property owners and business interests, were encouraged to attend the meeting and at Thursday’s meeting three landowners in the Highway 27 area of Enterprise near Matheson Firing Range addressed the group. Highway 27 landowner Joe McDaniel said, “It appears what the government is trying to do is restrict growth in the area.”

Noting that most of his helicopter noise complaints involved the fact that the firing training began at about 9 p.m., McDaniel said, “I’ve listened to thousands and thousands of rounds of live fire at night.”

“I’ve made 500 phone calls to Fort Rucker about things they should have taken care of,” he added. I’ve pleaded and I’ve begged and I’ve complained about those Apache (helicopter) gunships. It’s not about money; it’s about a way of life.”

Brenda Byrd, also a Highway 27 landowner agreed. Addressing Fort Rucker Air Space Control Officer Jack Holmes, who was in attendance, Byrd said, “Mr. Jack, when I asked you about the noise problems for years, you said you didn’t have ‘the tool’s to work with.’ ”

“What tools,” she asked. “Do you have the tools now?” Holmes said that the public meetings with open dialogue were among the “tools” that are available and said an example of changes over the years include the fact that Enterprise now has a requirement that potential home buyers within 3,000 feet of Shell Army

Air Field sign a document saying they are aware of the nearby air field.

Highway 27 landowner Lorenzo Harrison said that although the noise is at times an inconvenience, the public needs to be aware of the greater good.

“When our sons and daughters, nieces and nephews go into a war zone, we want them to have the best training in all kinds of scenarios,” he said. “We have to understand the importance of civilians and military coexisting.”

“The Joint Land Use Study is an exercise in proactive planning,” said Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell. “Looking ahead at issues and possible changes,both in the way Fort Rucker operates and the way nearby areas grow, allows the post and local governments to prevent or reduce future impacts and protect the health of both the military mission and the community.” The JLUS is also a good way to improve long-term communication between military and civilian neighbors, he added. “We have always prided ourselves on our close relationship with Fort Rucker and the JLUS plays an important role in maintaining that relationship and in ensuring that the Wiregrass and Fort Rucker continue to thrive together.”

The final Fort Rucker / Wiregrass Area Joint Land Use Study document is available at www.searpdc.org/JLUS.