in partnership with the National Guard

Executive Summary

RITTENHOUSE FLORENCE MILITARY PICACHO PEAK SILVERBELL TRAINING SITE RESERVATION STAGEFIELD ARMY HELIPORT What is the Pinal County What is the Joint Land Use Study? Project Area? The Pinal County Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) is a planning tool that was developed through a The Pinal County JLUS Project Area was collaborative process among: designed to capture land surrounding each of „ Pinal County „ The Arizona State Land Department the four AZARNG sites in Pinal County where civilian land and air activities may impact „ „ The City of Eloy The Bureau of Land Management current or future military operations or be „ The Town of Florence „ The Arizona Military Affairs Commission impacted by them. It encompasses central „ The Town of Marana „ The Arizona (AZARNG) Pinal County and includes the four AZARNG „ The Town of Queen Creek „ Other Local and Regional Stakeholders sites, and the JLUS partner communities of the towns of Queen Creek, Florence, and The intent of the JLUS process is to establish and encourage a synergetic relationship among all Marana, and the City of Eloy. area stakeholders to facilitate a team approach to the identification, prevention, and/or reduction of encroachment issues associated with current and future military missions and local community RITTENHOUSE growth. The JLUS included an assessment of compatibility issues around the four AZARNG sites A TRAINING SITE in Pinal County: Rittenhouse Training Site, Florence Military Reservation, Picacho Peak Stagefield, and Silverbell Army Heliport. The JLUS culminated in an Implementation Plan that presents more than 120 recommendations for addressing identified compatibility issues. The following pages FLORENCE MILITARY provide a brief overview of some of the key recommendations and the AZARNG sites to which B RESERVATION they pertain. PICACHO PEAK Overview of Arizona Army C STAGEFIELD

National Guard SILVERBELL The AZARNG has two distinct missions. One mission is serving the federal government when D ARMY HELIPORT activated in times of war, national emergencies, or as otherwise required. The other mission is to protect the public safety of the citizens of Arizona by providing support to civil authorities during natural disasters, civil unrest, and other emergencies. Both missions require the AZARNG to train year-round to be ready for future missions, either foreign or domestic. The Arizona Army National Guard and Silverbell Army Heliport account for over 3,350 direct, indirect, and induced jobs in the State of Arizona and have an $865 million economic impact throughout the state. As of May 2017, the AZARNG consists of six major commands and has an assigned end-strength of approximately 5,300 Soldiers who are trained and prepared for response to state and national emergencies. C

Picacho Rittenhouse Peak Training A B Stagefield Site

x¨79

Florence Military Reservation

Legend AZ National Guard Installation D

in partnership with ANASilverbell NANA GA Legend Source: AZ National Guard, 2018. USGS, 2017. Army AZ National Guard Installation County Boundary 0 500250 Figure 3-X Feet Heliport Installation Setting - Picacho Peak Stagefield

Fig3-X_PinalJLUS_Installation_Setting_Picacho_2018_02_16_EBR.pdf in partnership with ANA NANA GA Source: AZ National Guard, 2018. USGS, 2017.

0 500 1,000 Figure 3-X Feet Installation Setting - Rittenhouse Training Site

Fig3-X_PinalJLUS_Installation_Setting_Rittenhouse_2018_02_16_EBR.pdf

2 Legend AZ National Guard Installation Highway / Freeway Railroad

Legend AZ National Guard Installation

in partnership with ANA NANA GA Source: AZ National Guard, 2018. USGS, 2017.

in partnership with 0500250 Figure 3-X ANA NANA GA Feet Source: AZ National Guard, 2018. USGS, 2017. Installation Setting - Florence Military Reservation 0 500250 Figure 3-X Feet Fig3-X_PinalJLUS_Installation_Setting_FMR_2018_02_16_EBR.pdf Installation Setting - Silverbell Army Heliport

Fig3-X_PinalJLUS_Installation_Setting_Silverbell_2018_02_16_EBR.pdf Phoenix Chandler Gilbert Mesa x¨202 Boyce Superior Queen £60 Thompson Rittenhouse ¤ Creek Arboretum State Park Training Site Tonto National Maricopa County Queen 79 Forest Hohokam Pinal County Creek x¨ Pima National MPA Monument Florence San Tan MPA Park Gila River x¨87 Indian Reservation Florence Florence Kearny Maricopa McFarland Military x¨187 State Historic Park Reservation Casa Grande Maricopa (Ak 387 Coolidge Ruins Chin) Indian x¨ National Monument Reservation ¨¦§10

Casa Grande CAP Canal x¨84 x¨287 Picacho Reservoir ¨¦§8 Sonoran Desert National Eloy Monument

Picacho Peak Tohono State O'odham Nation Park Reservation Picacho Peak Silverbell Stagefield Army Eloy MPA CAP Canal Heliport Marana MPA

Maricopa Gila Pinal County County County Tortolita Pima County Mountain Park Ironwood Marana Oro Forest National Monument Tor tol it a Valley Preserve Catalina Pinal County State Park Coronado Saguaro National Pima County National Park Forest

Tucson

Legend AZ National Guard Interstate JLUS Partner City/Town Highway / Freeway JLUS Project Area Railroad County Boundary Water Body Other City/Town Native American Reservation JLUS Partner Park/Preserve/National Monument Municipal Planning Area (MPA) Source: AZ National Guard, 2018. USGS, 2017. Maricopa Association of Governments, 2018.

0 5 10 Pinal County JLUS Project Area 3 Joint Land Use Study Recommended Strategies

The heart of the Pinal County JLUS is the set of recommended strategies that address the compatibility issues identified. Since the Pinal County JLUS is the result of a collaborative planning process, the strategies represent a true consensus plan — a realistic and coordinated approach to compatibility planning developed with the support of stakeholders involved throughout the process. The strategies developed are uniquely tailored to each installations’ and communities’ specific needs and circumstances. In respecting the local context, they enhance it. The key to successfully implementing the strategies is the establishment of a JLUS Implementation Committee to oversee execution of the JLUS. Through this committee, local jurisdictions, AZARNG, federal and state agencies, and other interested parties can continue their initial collaborative efforts to establish procedures, recommend or refine specific actions for members, and make adjustments to strategies over time to ensure the JLUS is responsive to changing needs and continues to help stakeholders resolve key compatibility issues in the future. Concurrent with the efforts of the JLUS Implementation Committee, each project partner is responsible for establishing their own course of action to implement the strategies that are unique to their jurisdiction through the collaboration of their leadership, planners, and the public. The strategies developed during the JLUS process are described in detail in the Implementation Plan, Chapter 6 of the JLUS Report. The recommendations that are included in this executive summary present the key strategies that were developed and agreed to by the JLUS partners.

4 Page |2-2

2.2 | Land Use

In general, FMR has three major areas of activity: the main garrison located at the far south of the installation, the west side with RCs and a FMS, and the ranges located north of the main cantonment. These areas are buffered from each other by maneuever land, which is the dominant land use at FMR at 14,158 acres (73.5 percent of the total acreage). In addition to the buffer spaces around the main areas of activity, the entire northern half of the installation is used as maneuver land.

Within the main garrison are two distinct spaces, east and west, that are split by US 79. The eastern side is home to the Browning- Miller and Kasson RCs and FMS #4. The west side contains the RC used by the 222 TC and FMS #4A. The southwestern corner of the west side of FMR is sometimes referred to as “the Pig Farm,” which refers to the area’s previous use.

Immediately north of the main garrison is maneuever land. Just south of the CAP canal there is a small air strip used for research and development (R and D) by private enterprises. North of the canal is an area used for surface mining. On the west side of US 79, north of the CAP Canal, there is an area used for ammunition storage.

The range area encompasses approximately 629 acres. This area generates the Range Impact Area (3,904 acres), which is open space that buffers the ranges for safety purposes.

Key Strategies for the Entire JLUS Project Area Figure 2.3: Land Use

Land / Air Space Biological Resources Vertical Obstructions Competition

„ Explore Readiness and Environmental „ Adopt ordinances regulating unmanned „ Develop an official form for cell Protection Integration (REPI) funding. aircraft and no fly zones around AZARNG sites. tower permits. „ Explore opportunities to protect „ Develop an Unmanned Aerial System „ Include AZARNG in tower siting and environmentally-sensitive land specifically Hazard Plan. review processes. through the Sentinel Landscapes Program. „ Develop information on proper unmanned „ Develop a publicly accessible map of low- aerial system usage and regulations for level flight areas for planning purposes. the public. Coordination / „ Lobby the Arizona State Legislature to Communication consider a state-wide unmanned aerial system ordinance around Land Use „ Establish a Pinal County JLUS military installations. Implementation Committee, organized „ Explore the potential for the AZARNG to lease „ Define and establish AZARNG Military through a formal charter. additional Bureau of Land Management or Compatibility Areas (MCAs) to incorporate into local planning policies. „ Prepare and execute a formal Memorandum Arizona State Land Trust lands to support of Agreement for development their missions. „ Incorporate compatibility planning concepts proposal review. „ Explore land swap opportunities to provide into capital improvement plans and infrastructure master plans. „ Develop a regional web-based GIS portal to buffer land around the AZARNG sites. disseminate relevant information. „ Explore partnership opportunities for „ Develop real estate disclosures for property within the MCAs. „ Develop an AZARNG community / establishing buffer lands. military compatibility reference guide „ Pursue Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) for communities, property owners, and Program opportunities. „ developers to make informed decisions. Noise Pinal County should reevaluate the Mixed- „ Develop an AZARNG public education Use Activity Centers identified in the campaign for local communities. Comprehensive Plan to address „ Foster enhanced public awareness of military „ military compatibility. Include links to the AZARNG website on all flight areas. JLUS partner websites. „ Require note on plat documentation for property within the MCAs.

Energy Development Legislative Initiatives Light & Glare „ Develop state legislation to protect the „ Develop local policies that facilitate AZARNG missions statewide. alternative energy development „ Develop LED billboard ordinances to compatibility with military operations. minimize trespass lighting near military „ Utilize the Arizona Renewable Energy operational areas. Mapping Project. Frequency Spectrum „ Update outdoor lighting regulations to Impedance / Interference address military compatibility.

„ Develop maps that show where communication towers would impact military operations. 5 AZARNG RITTENHOUSE Military TRAINING SITE

Compatibility The Rittenhouse Training Site is approximately three miles east of the Town of Queen Creek on 480 acres leased from the Bureau of Land Management. Rittenhouse Training Site is an important Areas support facility for different types of helicopter training for the AZARNG. Types of helicopter training An important step in fostering compatible that occur there include: touch-and-go landings, dust landings, emergency procedures, multi- development and activities without ship training, slope operations, sling load transportation (transporting supplies and equipment overregulating is the establishment of the by suspending them from a rope or tether beneath a helicopter), and Bambi Bucket training AZARNG Military Compatibility Areas (MCAs). (transporting a 660-gallon bucket of water suspended beneath a helicopter). It is the closest The MCAs are geographic areas within AZARNG helicopter training facility to Papago Military Reservation and primarily used by pilots from that operational footprints outside the installations location. As such, it plays a critical role in reducing fuel costs associated with training at sites that are where certain military activities may impact further away. local communities and vice versa. The MCAs Rittenhouse Training Site also serves as a maneuver and training area for light forces. It is especially allow stakeholders to easily identify locations important in supporting pre-mobilization field training exercises, as it is easily accessed by soldiers where development would be compatible or at Papago Military Reservation during ramp-up activities in preparation of deployment. incompatible, relative to each type of military operation. Each of the four AZARNG sites has its own set of MCAs that together compose a larger Military Compatibility Areas site-specific Military Compatibility Area Overlay There were two MCAs identified for Rittenhouse Training Site. District (MCAOD). There are three additional MCAs that are not specific to individual Land Use MCA AZARNG sites. The Land Use MCA is composed of all current parcels with 25 percent of their land area located The recommended strategies within the MCAs within a ½ of the boundary of Rittenhouse Training Site. Strategies associated with this MCA are designed to accomplish the following: are related to land use planning, real estate disclosures, including notes on platting documents, and educating surrounding property owners about military operations in the area. It is further „ Protect public health, safety, and welfare; recommended that this MCA serve as a notification area by the jurisdictions to the AZARNG on „ Promote an orderly transition between proposed developments. Future development within this MCA should be characterized by lower community and military activity areas so that density / intensity uses, such as one dwelling unit per acre for residential developments, with land uses remain compatible; ordinances promoting uses that are compatible with military activities. „ Maintain operational capabilities of AZARNG Helicopter Overflight MCA sites and training areas; „ Promote an awareness of the size and scope The Helicopter MCA encompasses the flight patterns used in Bambi bucket and sling load flight of military activities to protect areas outside patterns and a half-mile buffer area around it. This MCA is meant to guide future development in the AZARNG site boundaries that are used for order to limit the height of buildings and structures such as communication towers so they do not mission operations (e.g., flight impact safe helicopter flight operations and to minimize uses that would be impacted by helicopter training areas). noise. Due to the low-level flight activity that occurs in this MCA, structure height should be limited „ Inform local communities of compatibility to 50 feet above ground level. Additionally, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) should be regulated in recommendations within the designated this area so that they do not interfere with helicopter operations or the safety of AZARNG personnel. areas that are part of this JLUS. Key Recommendations The following are key recommendations to address compatibility issues around Rittenhouse Training Site. Land Use „ Leverage Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Overflight Area Zones to establish ordinances that protect Rittenhouse Training Site’s flight operations. „ Conduct a cost benefit analysis to relocate missions from Rittenhouse Training Site. „ Consider relocating missions from Rittenhouse Training Site to another location.

6

CAP Canal N Jackrabbit Rd Jackrabbit N

Rittenhouse Training Site

E Ocotillo Rd

CAP CanalCAP

Legend Military Compatibility Area Overlay District (MCAOD) Rittenhouse Training Site Helicopter Overflight MCA Local Road Land Use MCA

0 ½¼ Miles Source: AZ National Guard, 2018; Matrix Design Group, 2018.

Rittenhouse Training Site Military Compatibility Area Overlay District

7 ¤£60

N Reymert Rd

Pinal County N Mineral Mountain Rd x¨79

E Cottonwood Canyon Rd

E Magma Rd

N Sandman Rd N Box Canyon Rd

E Arizona Farms Rd Florence Military Reservation E Price Station Rd

Hiller Rd

CAP Canal

N Whitlow Ranch Rd

Florence

W Hunt Hwy

CAP Canal

E Diversion Dam Rd

Legend Military Compatibility Area Florence Military Reservation Highway / Freeway Overlay District (MCAOD) Primary Training Area Local Road Airspace Protection MCA (Year-round use) Railroad Impact Noise MCA Special Land Use Permit Lease (22 days per year use) Land Use MCA Town of Florence 0 1½ Miles Source: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 2017; AZ National Guard, 2018; Matrix Design Group, 2018.

Florence Military Reservation Military Compatibility Area Overlay District

8 FLORENCE MILITARY RESERVATION

Florence Military Reservation is one of Arizona’s largest National Airspace Protection MCA Guard training areas, covering 18,616 acres. Florence Military Reservation is a Level V Training Center and serves as the Desert The Airspace Protection MCA is meant to protect and preserve the Training Environment for the AZARNG. It is an important asset restricted airspace over Florence Military Reservation. Unmanned to the AZARNG’s training capabilities because the environment aerial systems should be regulated in this MCA so that they is similar to areas where troops are deployed, and it provides do not interfere with military flight operations or the safety of realistic training grounds that facilitate troops’ success in their AZARNG personnel. The Airspace Protection MCA includes two respective missions. Florence Military Reservation’s training subzones. The first subzone applies to the restricted airspace facilities include small arms ranges, grenade ranges, machine over Florence Military Reservation and is meant to preserve the gun ranges, land navigation courses, maneuver areas, mine airspace capabilities by managing development below it and detection lanes, improvised explosive device defeat lanes, rock thereby minimize vertical obstructions and other flight hazards, crusher areas, drop zones, landing zones, high-mobility, multi as well as the impacts of flight operations on local residents. wheeled vehicle driver training, bivouac areas, obstacle courses, The second subzone is a one-mile buffer around the restricted a Military Operations on Urban Terrain mock village with 50 airspace that serves as a buffer between restricted and un- buildings, and restricted airspace to test and train UASs. restricted areas. Any future development plans in this subzone should take into consideration its proximity to military Military Compatibility Areas aircraft activity. There were three MCAs identified for Florence Key Recommendations Military Reservation. The following are key recommendations to address compatibility Land Use MCA issues around Florence Military Reservation. The Land Use MCA is composed of all current parcels with 25 Coordination / Communication percent of their land area located within a ½ mile of the boundary „ Consider partnerships to develop enhanced use lease of Florence Military Reservation. Strategies associated with this opportunities at Florence Military Reservation. MCA are related to land use planning, real estate disclosures, including notes on platting documents, and educating Dust / Smoke / Steam surrounding property owners about military operations in „ Inform the local community of potential high dust activities. the area. It is further recommended that this MCA serve as a „ AZARNG should continue to employ dust suppression notification area by the jurisdictions to the AZARNG on proposed methods on unpaved roadways. developments. Future development within this MCA should be characterized by lower density / intensity uses, such as Land / Air Space Competition one dwelling unit per acre for residential developments, with „ Research the potential for purchasing avigation easements. ordinances promoting uses that are compatible with „ Explore the possibility of recording avigation notices. military activities. „ Add policies to the comprehensive and general plans that help Impact Noise MCA protect restricted airspace. The Impact Noise MCA includes all land that lies outside of the Roadway Capacity primary training area of Florence Military Reservation and within „ Consider turn lanes and / or traffic signal controls to improve the Noise Zone II (87 to 104 dB) area associated with live weapons access to Florence Military Reservation. firing ranges. While most of the Arizona State Trust Lands that the AZARNG leases from the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) falls within the primary training area, ASLD lands that are leased under a 22-day special land use permit do not. Due to increased noise levels in this MCA, noise-sensitive land uses such as residential, schools, and places of worship should be restricted in this MCA.

9 PICACHO PEAK STAGEFIELD

Picacho Peak Stagefield is a 320-acre satellite facility for land uses that concentrate or cluster people, such as residences, Silverbell Army Heliport, located approximately 13 miles churches, and schools, not be constructed within the APZs. northwest of the heliport and a little over two miles east of the Airfield Obstructions MCA City of Eloy. Picacho Peak Stagefield’s mission is to operate as necessary to support the rotary wing and UAS training mission The Airfield Obstructions MCA includes all land outside the of the Army National Guard. It provides an important element installation boundaries within the imaginary surfaces associated of pilot training, including practicing emergency landing with existing and potential future helicopter landing lanes. The procedures. Training flights typically consist of closed-pattern purpose of the Airfield Obstructions MCA is to manage the height flights at altitudes ranging from ground level to 2,400 feet of all structures and buildings within the imaginary surfaces. above ground level within a one- to two-mile radius of the The imaginary surfaces are 3-D geographic areas comprising Stagefield. Night operations occasionally occur at Picacho approach departure airspace corridors and safety buffers. This Peak Stagefield on an as-needed-basis to support training MCA has two subzones. Subzone A is composed of the existing requirements. The facility can support up to 12 helicopters and potential approach-departure clearance surfaces for the simultaneously, but only four to six are typically in operation at landing lanes. Subzone A begins as inclined planes at the end a given time. There is also an instructor training course for the of the primary surface and extend for 1,200 feet. Subzone B is RQ-7 Shadow UAS. composed of the existing and potential transitional surfaces for the landing lanes. The transitional surface starts at the lateral Military Compatibility Areas edges of the primary surface and the approach-departure clearance surface. It continues outward and upward to an The MCAOD for Picacho Peak Stagefield is composed of four MCAs. elevation of 150 feet above the helipad elevation. Land Use MCA Airspace Protection MCA

The Land Use MCA is composed of all current parcels with The Picacho Peak Stagefield Airspace Protection MCA is 25 percent of their land area located within a ½ mile of the composed of the designated Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace boundary of Picacho Peak Stagefield. Strategies associated around the installation, which extends for four nautical miles with this MCA are related to land use planning, real estate around the center of the airfield and consists of all airspace disclosures, including notes on platting documents, and from the surface of the airfield up to and including 2,500 feet educating surrounding property owners about military above ground level. Additionally, the AZARNG has a desire to operations in the area. It is further recommended that this MCA work with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to establish serve as a notification area by the jurisdictions to the AZARNG this airspace as Class D Airspace in the future, which would on proposed developments. Future development within this encompass the same footprint. Development within this MCA MCA should be characterized by lower density / intensity uses, should be managed to maintain building heights that will not such as one dwelling unit per acre for residential developments, interfere with aircraft operations. with ordinances promoting uses that are compatible with military activities. Key Recommendations Airfield Safety MCA The following are key recommendations to address compatibility The Airfield Safety MCA includes all land outside the installation issues around Picacho Peak Stagefield. boundaries within the clear zone (CZ) and accident potential zone Land Use (APZ) associated with existing and potential future helicopter landing lanes at Picacho Peak Stagefield. This MCA is intended to „ Develop a 3-D modeling tool of the imaginary surfaces help prevent the development of incompatible land uses in areas at Picacho Peak Stagefield that can be used to determine with the greatest potential for an aircraft mishap. The AZARNG has structure heights on land within the imaginary surfaces. expressed interest in constructing additional landing lanes in the future, so this MCA illustrates a potential layout and associated safety zones but would need to be updated if additional landing lanes are constructed. The MCA includes two subzones. Subzone A includes all land outside the installation boundary within the CZs. Within the CZ, most land uses are incompatible with aircraft operations. It is recommended that no development be located within CZs. Subzone B includes all land outside the installation boundary within the APZs. Compatibility guidelines recommend

10 x¨87

¨¦§10

CAP Canal

Eloy

Picacho Peak Stagefield

Pinal County

Legend Military Compatibility Area Overlay District Picacho Peak Stagefield Airfield Safety MCA City of Eloy Airfield Obstructions MCA Interstate Land Use MCA Highway / Freeway Airspace Protection MCA Railroad

0 ½ 1 2 Source: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 2017; AZ National Guard, 2019. Miles

Picacho Peak Stagefield Military Compatibility Area Overlay District

11 S Jet Dr Silverbell Army Heliport

Pinal Airpark

Pinal County

Pima County

Legend Military Compatibility Area Overlay District Silverbell Army Heliport Airfield Safety MCA Airfield Obstructions MCA Local Road Land Use MCA

Source: AZ National Guard, 2018; Matrix Design Group, 2018.

0 ¼ ½ Miles Silverbell Army Heliport Military Compatibility Area Overlay District

12 SILVERBELL ARMY HELIPORT

Silverbell Army Heliport is a 160-acre installation located Airfield Obstructions MCA approximately three miles northwest of the Town of Marana. It is one of the Army’s premier aviation training locations and serves The Airfield Obstructions MCA includes all land outside the as the AZARNG’s primary aviation facility. Its mission is to conduct installation boundaries within the imaginary surfaces around the individual- and unit-level aviation training for UH-72 Lakota and helicopter landing pads. The purpose of the Airfield Obstructions UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, operate regional aviation simulation MCA is to manage the height of all structures and buildings facilities, and provide aviation support operations for the Army, the within the imaginary surfaces. The imaginary surfaces are 3-D State of Arizona, and international military customers. More than geographic areas comprising approach-departure airspace 300 helicopter pilots from the National Guard, Active Duty Army, corridors and safety buffers. This MCA has two subzones. Subzone and Army Reserves are trained at Silverbell Army Heliport annually. A is composed of the existing and potential approach-departure clearance surfaces for the landing lanes. Subzone A begins as Silverbell Army Heliport is home to the Western Army Aviation inclined planes at the end of the primary surface and extends for Training Site, which provides year-round training to all Army 1,200 feet. Subzone B is composed of the transitional surfaces National Guard rotary wing units west of the Mississippi River. for the landing lanes. The transitional surface starts at the Helicopter training is conducted in the 3,600-square-mile Tactical lateral edges of the primary surface and the approach-departure Flight Training Area that allows low level flights, nap of the earth clearance surface. It continues outward and upward to an terrain flights, emergency procedure simulation, air-to-air combat elevation of 150 feet above the helipad elevation. training, and tactical and dust environment landing zones in designated areas. Key Recommendations Military Compatibility Areas The following are key recommendations to address compatibility issues around Silverbell Army Heliport. The MCAOD for Silverbell Army Heliport is composed of Coordination / Communication three MCAs. „ Develop a Memorandum of Agreement to formalize Land Use MCA communication policies and / or operational update The Land Use MCA is composed of all current parcels with 25 notification procedures. percent of their land area located within a ½ mile of the boundary „ Establish a partnership between the AZARNG and local of Silverbell Army Heliport. Strategies associated with this MCA airport operators and users to coordinated activities in are related to land use planning, real estate disclosures, including shared airspace. notes on platting documents, and educating surrounding Land / Air Space Competition property owners about military operations in the area. It is further recommended that this MCA serve as a notification area by the „ Explore the possibility of recording aviation notices with jurisdictions to the AZARNG on proposed developments. Future property owners. development within this MCA should be characterized by lower „ Document the Tactical Flight Training Area in the density / intensity uses, such as one dwelling unit per acre for Federal Register. residential developments, with ordinances promoting uses that „ Form partnerships with local airport operators and commercial are compatible with military activities. air recreational organizations. Airfield Safety MCA „ Support a joint air traffic control tower for Pinal Airpark and . The Airfield Safety MCA includes all land outside the installation „ Consult with Arizona Game and Fish Department regarding boundaries within the clear zone (CZ) and accident potential zone flight and landing plans. (APZ) associated with the helicopter landing pads. This MCA is intended to help prevent the development of incompatible land Land Use uses in areas with the greatest potential for an aircraft mishap. „ Develop a 3-D modeling tool of the imaginary surfaces at The MCA includes two subzones. Subzone A includes all land Silverbell Army Heliport and Pinal Airpark that can be used to outside the installation boundary within the CZs. Within the CZ, determine structure heights on land within the most land uses are incompatible with aircraft operations. It is imaginary surfaces. recommended that no development be located there. Subzone B includes all land outside the installation boundary within the APZs. Compatibility guidelines recommend land uses that congregate or cluster people, such as residences, apartments, churches, and schools not be constructed within the APZs. 13 PRIMARY HELICOPTER TRAINING ROUTE MCA

This MCA addresses the general flight corridor between Silverbell Army Heliport and Picacho Peak Stagefield, as well as an additional buffer around the general flight route and each installation. This MCA should increase property owners’ and other residents’ awareness of the areas where helicopter operations are common and promote development in areas not impacted by helicopter overflight (such as noise-sensitive uses), or impactful to helicopter safety (such as tall structures or uses that generate excessive light and glare). Additionally, UASs should be regulated in this MCA to prevent interference with military flight operations and the safety of AZARNG personnel. This MCA has two subzones. Subzone A is composed of a three-mile-wide general flight x¨87 corridor between Silverbell Army Heliport and Eloy Picacho Peak Stagefield. Designating this subzone should help inform property owners and potential property buyers that helicopter overflight occurs ¨¦§10 in the area. Signage, real estate disclosures, and/

CAP Canal or requiring a note on plat documents regarding such activity can support this goal. Additionally, regulations prohibiting the usage of civilian or commercial UASs should be enacted in this Picacho Peak Stagefield Subzone to protect pilot safety. Subzone B is made up of a five-mile radius around the center of Picacho Peak Stagefield’s and Silverbell Army Heliport’s airfields. The FAA has enacted regulations for the use of UASs within

CAP Canal a five-mile radius of medium and large across the U.S. The purpose of this subzone is to designate an area in which local municipalities would consider enacting UAS ordinances that ¨¦§10 regulate these devices around Picacho Peak Silverbell Army Stagefield and Silverbell Army Heliport, similar to Heliport FAA regulations around other airports. Pinal County

Pima County Marana

Legend Primary Helicopter Training Route MCA AZ National Guard Site Interstate Subzone A (Primary Training Route) JLUS Partner Community Highway / Freeway Subzone B (UAS 5-mile Buffer) County Boundary Railroad

Source: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 2017; Matrix Design Group, 2018.

0 1 2 3 4 5 Miles Primary Helicopter Training Route MCA

14 Helicopter Tactical Flight Helicopter Night Training Area MCA Training MCA

The Helicopter Tactical Flight Training Area (TFTA) MCA covers the The Helicopter Night Training MCA is composed of the general flight corridors 3,600-square mile TFTA that is used by Silverbell Army Heliport pilots and that are used for specialized night training. The flight corridor is shown as a students. The TFTA is made up of multiple smaller training areas and allows five-mile-wide corridor and follows the typical night training routes used by pilots and students to train for low-level flights, including terrain contour the AZARNG. This MCA identifies areas that may allow lighting levels that may and nap of the earth flights, over different types of terrain. Tactical training affect night training missions and operations. Lighting regulations that require is conducted below 300 feet AGL, and other flight operations are typically fully-shielded and/or full-cutoff light fixtures and that prohibit LED billboards conducted between 500 feet and 1,200 feet AGL. Although the entire TFTA should be adopted within this MCA. is used for training, there are certain areas within its confines that serve as primary training areas due to their proximity to Silverbell Army Heliport, which provides specialized training such as night training. The airspace within the TFTA is not restricted, nor is it protected airspace exclusive to military use. The purpose of designating this MCA is to increase public awareness of the expanse of the TFTA used by the AZARNG for helicopter training.

Scottsdale Fort Apache Hohokam Pima Tonto National Forest Reservation National Monument Queen Creek Fort McDowell Surprise Peoria Pinal County Yavapai Nation San Tan Park Phoenix Reservation Goodyear Youngtown Gila Salt River Ton to River Indian Glendale Reservation National Reservation Florence Lost Dutchman Forest Gila County Maricopa Florence Avondale Mesa State Park McFarland State Buckeye ¨¦§17 Tempe Maricopa (Ak Rittenhouse Historic Park Military Miami Globe Chin) Indian Casa Grande Maricopa Gilbert Apache Training Site Reservation Ruins National Reservation ¤£70 County Junction Superior San Carlos Monument Queen Reservation Chandler ¤£60 Florence Maricopa Goodyear Creek Coolidge County Casa Gila River Military CAP Canal Indian San Tan Park Reservation Grande Reservation Florence Maricopa ¨¦§10 Kearny

Coolidge Gila Sonoran Desert Bend Sonoran Desert National Casa Grande National Picacho Monument Monument Eloy Peak ¨¦§8 Picacho Graham County Eloy Peak Stagefield Pinal County Stagefield Mammoth

Picacho Oracle Silverbell Picacho Peak Peak State Army State Park State Park Park Pinal County Heliport Silverbell Army Ironwood Forest Tortolita Mountain Park National Monument Marana Oro Heliport Valley Coronado National Tortolita Forest Mountain Saguaro Park National Marana Tortolita Park Ironwood Forest Preserve Tucson Saguaro National Tohono O'odham National Park Monument Nation Reservation CAP Canal

Benson Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation Pima Sahuarita Cochise Saguaro Organ Pipe Cactus County National National Monument ¨¦§19 County Park

Pima County

Pascua Sierra Pueblo Yaqui

Santa Vista Reservation CAP Canal CAP Cruz County Tohono O'odham Tohono O'odham Nation Nation Reservation Reservation

Legend Legend Helicopter TFTA MCA AZ National Guard Site Interstate Helicopter Night Training MCA AZ National Guard Site Interstate Primary Helicopter Training Area JLUS Partner City/Town Highway / Freeway Night Time Training Route JLUS Partner City/Town Highway / Freeway AZARNG Helicopter TFTA County Boundary Railroad County Boundary Railroad Other City/Town Native American Reservation Other City/Town Native American Reservation Park/Preserve/National Monument Park/Preserve/National Monument

Source: AZARNG, 2019 (Some helicopter training area boundaries digitized by Matrix Design Group). Note: Helicopter data are generalized and should be Note: TFTA boundaries on this map are meant for informational purposes only and actual boundaries may vary from what is shown. used for planning purposes only. Note: Strategy LAS-5C recommends AZARNG consider revising the TFTA to avoid Eloy Municipal Airport operational areas. Source: AZ National Guard, 2018; USGS, 2017; Matrix Design Group, 2018.

0 5 10 20 0 5 10 Miles Miles Helicopter TFTA MCA Helicopter Night Training MCA

15 in partnership with the Arizona National Guard

For more information on the JLUS and associated documents, please contact:

Pinal County Community 31 North Pinal St., Building F Development Department P.O. Box 2973 Florence, AZ 85132 Ph: 520.866.6442

This study was prepared under contract with Pinal County, Arizona, with financial support from the Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment. The content reflects the views of the key JLUS partners involved in the development of this study and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Office of Economic Adjustment.