There is established an AO zone, airport overlay zone and the regulations and standards for land uses permitted within. This zone includes the land owned and leased by the city for the purpose of owning and operating a municipal airport, together with the land adjacent with said property extending one hundred fifty feet north and one hundred fifty feet south of the edge of the runway pavement. All land within the AO zone is located between Benson Road and Depot Road and must have frontage on the Lynden Municipal Airport. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

The purpose of this chapter is to protect the lives and property of people who live or work in the vicinity of the airport, and the aircraft pilots and their passengers, by regulating the land use and the height of structures and trees to prevent the establishment of airport hazards, restricting the establishment of incompatible land uses near the airport, and requiring the marking and lighting of new and existing obstructions within the AO zone. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

Permitted uses in the AO zone are as follows:
A. Landing, take-off, and flight of private aircraft by licensed pilots;
B. Business incidental to and necessary for airport operations including:
1. Airport offices,
2. Public restrooms,
3. Hangers,
4. Gas and oil sales, for aircraft only,
5. Light repair shops,
Providing however, that these uses take place in an area with an underlying zone of I-2;
C. Residentially based aircraft and hangars, providing however, that no repair work is done except exchange of parts and maintenance requiring no open flame, welding or the use of a Class I or II liquids as defined by the Uniform Fire Code. This use may only occur where the underlying zone is RS-100. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

A. The airport shall not be used by unlicensed pilots or by persons not registered by the United States Ultralight Association.
B. No uses shall be permitted that interfere with the normal flight of aircraft.
C. No uses shall be permitted that interfere with communications with other aircraft or base units.
D. No uses shall be permitted which would make it difficult for pilots to distinguish between airports and other lights or result in glare in the eyes of pilots using the airport.
E. No uses shall be permitted that would impair visibility of the airport. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

As used in this chapter:
“Airport” means any area of land designed and set aside for the landing and taking off of aircraft and utilized in the interest of the public for such purpose. In this chapter, airport refers to the Lynden Airport.
“Airport hazard” means any structure or tree or use of land which obstructs the air space required for the flight, landing or taking off of aircraft.
“Airport hazard area” means any area of land upon which an airport hazard might be established if not prevented as provided in this chapter.
“Runway” means a defined area on an airport prepared for landing and take-off of aircraft along its length.
“Structure” means an object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by man, including but without limitation, buildings, towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formation and overhead transmission lines.
“Utility runway” means a runway that is constructed for and intended to be used by propeller driven aircraft of twelve thousand five hundred pounds maximum gross weight and less.
“Visual runway” means a runway intended solely for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

No residential dwelling unit, office space, fueling facility or repair shop shall be located closer than ninety-five feet to the runway centerline. Aircraft hangars and tie down facilities shall not be located closer than seventy-five feet to the runway centerline. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

Residentially based aircraft are permitted in the AO zone based on a density of one aircraft per two hundred feet of frontage on the airport property; thirteen aircraft permitted north of the airport and seven aircraft permitted south of the airport for a total of twenty residentially based aircraft. This aircraft allowance may be transferred between residential lots as property ownership, aircraft ownership or pilot licensing capability changes. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

Except as noted below and in Section 19.55.060, all residential setbacks are permitted in Section 19.15.060, and setbacks in the industrial zone are as noted in Section 19.25.120. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

Except as noted in Section 19.55.060, hangars may be permitted as close as five feet to the property line, provided, however, that no openings are located on those walls, as provided in Table 5-A of the Uniform Building Code. Openings within twenty feet of the property line must be one hour fire restrictive construction as provided in the Uniform Building Code. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

Residential hangars may be a maximum of two thousand five hundred square feet in size and a maximum of twenty-five feet in height and are considered accessory structures to a single-family home. The maximum lot coverage on a residential lot within the AO zone shall be thirty-five percent. Lot coverage on industrial lots shall be forty-five percent. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

All business located within the AO zone must meet those parking requirements outlined in Chapter 19.51. The airport must provide .5 parking space per airplane based at the Lynden Airport. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

A. Any permit or variance issued for any structure or use in any airport zone where there are height limitations may be conditioned on the installation, operation and maintenance of markers and lights indicating the presence of an airport hazard. Required markers shall not interfere with the safe flight of aircraft (see Section 19.55.040, Restricted uses). These markers and/or lights shall be installed, operated and maintained by the owner of the hazard.
B. The owner of any existing structure, tree or use that is considered an airport hazard may be required to permit the installation, operation and maintenance of markers or lights. The marking and lighting of existing airport hazards shall be installed, operated and maintained at the owner’s expense. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).

All aircraft based from the Lynden Airport will require an access permit to be granted by the airport board, with fees set by resolution of the city council. There will be a total of twenty residentially based permits granted, provided, however that no more than thirteen such permits shall be granted to residential properties to the north and no more than seven such permits shall be granted to residential properties to the south. The total number of access permits to be granted shall be set out by the Lynden Municipal Airport master plan. (Ord. 1000 § A(part), 1995).