Sec. 6.4.8. Passenger Terminal

  1. Passenger Terminal Use Category
    Facilities for the takeoff and landing of planes and helicopters, and facilities for trains, buses, taxis or limo services. Passenger terminal includes the following uses.
    1. Airport.
    2. Airfield, landing strip. 
    3. Bus passenger terminal, multi-modal facility.
    4. Heliport.
    5. Railroad station.
    6. Taxi dispatch center, limousine service.
  2. Airfield, Landing Strip
    1. Defined
      Facility for the taking off and landing of aeroplanes. Does not include accommodations for passengers.
    2. Use Standards
      a. Design standards for an airfield shall be in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
      b. The length of the clear zone to be controlled and maintained by the airfield (no buildings allowed) such that future construction is prohibited is 1,000 feet.
      c. There shall be a planted area at least 25 feet wide on both sides of the landing strip, provided and maintained by the airfield owner in such a manner as to minimize noise, dust and hazard from the field, in areas where in the opinion of the Board of Adjustment such protection is found to be desirable.
      d. The area shall be fenced to prevent trespassing by animals or unauthorized persons.
      ​​​​​​​e. Except in areas properly zoned for such uses, there shall be no business, repair or advertisement, except for the sale of gasoline to the planes based at the field.
  3. Heliport, Serving Hospitals
    1. Defined
      Facility for the taking off and landing of helicopters serving hospitals licensed by the State of North Carolina pursuant to N.C.Gen.Stat. §131E-176 et seq. that operate acute care beds as defined by 10A N.C.A.C. 14C.3801 as an accessory use. 
    2. Use Standards
      1. The heliport is used only for emergency medical purposes.
      2. Design standards for a heliport shall be in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
      3. Proof of Air Space Clearance from the Federal Aviation Agency is required prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or zoning permit.
      4. Evergreen shrub plantings adjacent to the security fence surrounding any ground-level heliport safety area shall be required. These plantings shall be required to obscure at least 75% of the security fence at the time of planting to a height of 24 inches and all shrub plantings shall be expected to reach a height of 5 feet or greater within 5 years of planting.
  4. Heliport, All Others
    1. ​​​​​​​Defined
      Facility for the taking off and landing of helicopters not associated with a hospital licensed by the State of North Carolina.
    2. Use Standards
      1. Design standards for a heliport shall be in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
      2. Proof of Air Space Clearance from the Federal Aviation Agency is required prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or zoning permit.
      3. The facility must be designed and placed so that it will not be detrimental to adjoining properties or to properties within a 1,000-foot radius of the heliport site as measured from the center of the final approach and takeoff area.
      4. Evergreen shrub plantings adjacent to the security fence surrounding any ground-level heliport safety area shall be required. These plantings shall be required to obscure at least 75% of the security fence at the time of planting to a height of 24 inches and all shrub plantings shall be expected to reach a height of 5 feet or greater within 5 years of planting.
      5. The applicant for a heliport special use permit shall notify by first class mail all property owners within a 1,000-foot radius of the center of the proposed final approach and takeoff area. This notice shall be posted at least 30 days prior to the date of the hearing on the request. This notice shall contain the same information as the notice required by Sec. 10.2.1.C.5.a.
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