The White Hills Eagles Radio Control Club said it won over neighbors who complained about model planes flying over their houses.
Club President Dr. Carmen Luciano said earlier this month that he and one neighbor “pounded out an agreement that would be beneficial” for the club and its neighbors.
Neighbor Jeff Woods also confirmed that the issues had been resolved.
The club uses a field on Birdseye Road as a takeoff and landing zone, leading some neighbors to complain to the city’s zoning office about planes flying in no-fly zones and noise, among other allegations. It came before the Planning and Zoning Commission last month.
City Zoning Administrator Rick Schultz said at a regular zoning meeting earlier this month that the club would likely get approval to continue using the site.
An official decision could come at Tuesday’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. Click here to read the agenda.
“I’m pleased to report there appears to be a consensus for a favorable resolution,” Schultz said. No opponents attended that meeting.
A written agreement with the neighbors is in the works, according to Luciano. The chief complaints were out-of-bounds flying and noise levels.
The club uses only electric-powered planes whose engines operate under 55 decibels, the city’s legal standard for noise output, Luciano said. The noise level passed a police test, he added.
The club also stiffened penalties for misconduct with planes and set hours of flight. The club does not fly planes at night, contrary to one complaint that was made, Luciano said. Some boundaries were also changed.
