Highrises brush air-safety ceiling

02/27/2010 PENTICTON HERALD:
It‘s too early to say whether some building projects in Penticton will be impacted while officials check to make sure they don‘t violate height restrictions under the Aeronautics Act. Federal airport height limits that affect much of Penticton‘s urban areas have come to the attention of the city‘s development and engineering services division while city maps were being updated. Structures in these areas are limited to a height of 1,264 feet above sea level.

Mayor Dan Ashton said it‘s premature to suggest that any projects, including the 23-storey P2 highrise development, planned for the former Super-Valu property on Martin Street, are in jeopardy. “At this point in time, there‘s a process you have to go through and an application,” he said. “I just want to leave it at that.” City staff and David Allen, manager of Penticton Regional Airport, met Friday after the restriction zones were discovered. “Because of that, we are having to reassess some of the structures,” said Ashton. “Most of them are temporary, like the cranes that are above buildings.” The review will involve the city, the airport manager, Nav Canada, which owns and operates the country‘s air navigation system, and Transport Canada to ensure that properties are in compliance. Ashton said the restrictions will apply depending on a building‘s height and its proximity to the airport. City staff will speak with the owners of buildings or proposed buildings within the regulated area. Ashton has told the P2 development owner about the city‘s review procedures, and city staff will be in touch with him as soon as possible. “We‘re trying to work with everybody to ensure we meet the guidelines that Transport Canada has, and that‘s very important for the safety of the flying public,” he said.

The regulation was developed in 1967 by Transport Canada. Since the 1970s, it has been used by the city‘s development and engineering services department to determine if development proposals fall within the airport runway flight path.