Liz Drake, senior associate and planner for EDAW, Inc., speaks at a public meeting at the Senior Center.
Liz Drake, the senior associate planner for EDAW, Inc., the firm conducting the study, led the meeting, which was attended by members of the public, as well as Trigg County magistrates Jon Goodwin and Doug Taylor and Judge-Executive Stan Humphries. Drake said that the plan and recommendations she was presenting was only a draft, but that that the public would have a much better idea of where they going by the end of the meeting. She said that one thing she wanted to make clear was that Fort Campbell was not planning to physically expand and that the purpose of the study was to open up communication between the base and the surrounding communities. She said the first JULS was conducted in 1996 and that this could be considered an update.
Drake said that there were no specific recommendations for Trigg County and that Fort Cambell affected areas like Hopkinsville, Clarksville and Oak Grove much more. She said that although noise is a common complaint in Trigg County, the noise frequency here is not as great. While 55 decibels is a normal speaking volume, she said that when noise approaches 60, 65 or 70 decibels, this is when there is the most annoyance. She said that the army discourages development of multiple family housing, hospitals, schools and churches in areas that would be most affected. She said the study would contain any additional steps for Trigg County, but that there were already some procedures in place, such as no-fly zone.
Drake spoke of avigation easements, in which property owners would sell development rights to the army and would require compensation from them. Another program is called the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (ACUB), in which nonprofit organizations owning land near the base would receive funds from the Department of Defense.
For the rest of this story, read this week's Cadiz Record.
