January 2009 This page left intentionally blank ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PROJECT MANAGEMENT TEAM This study was prepared under contract with Co‐Chairperson for Project Management Team: the Bossier City‐Parish Metropolitan Planning Mr. Sam Marsiglia, Director of Planning for Commission with financial support of the Office Bossier City of Economic Adjustment, Department of Defense. The content reflects the views of the Co‐Chairperson for Project Management Team: participating stakeholders and not necessarily Ms. Denise Altomari‐Bonck, Barksdale Air Force the views of the Office of Economic Base Community Planner Adjustment. Acknowledgements Lieutenant Colonel Justin C. Davey, 2nd Civil The Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB) Joint Land Engineer Squadron Commander Use Study (JLUS) is a cooperative land use planning initiative between the U.S. Air Force Mr. David Sanders, Barksdale Air Force Base and the surrounding communities in the CEAO Program Manager region. Partners in the JLUS include: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish, and the cities of the City Mr. Gary Mackey, Barksdale Air Force Base of Bossier, Benton, Haughton, and Shreveport. Environmental Planner This document serves as an ongoing guide to Mr. T. David Hodges, Barksdale Air Force Base local government and Air Force actions to Chief of Airspace Management enhance compatibility around Barksdale AFB and to strengthen the military‐civilian Mr. William Altimus, Parish Administrator for relationship. Bossier Parish Police Jury EXECUTIVE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Mr. Daniel McGrath, Sr., Representative for Bossier City Board of Adjustment Mr. Winifred Johnson, President of Bossier Parish Police Jury Mr. Bob Brown, Director of Community Development for Bossier City Mr. Lo Walker, Mayor of Bossier City Ms. Pam Glorioso, Special Projects for Mayor’s Mr. Jeffery D. Darby, President of Bossier City Office for Bossier City Council Mr. John Sanders, District Engineer Mr. Albert Doughty, Mayor of Benton Administrator for LA Department of Transportation and Development Mr. Murray Visor, Military Affairs Committee, Barksdale Forward Mr. Kent Rogers, Executive Director for North Louisiana Council of Governments Colonel Lee L. Gardner, Barksdale Mission Support Group Commander Mr. Rocky Rockett, President & Exec. Dir Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation Mr. Loy Moore, Haynesville Mercantile Mr. Roy Jambor, Senior Planner Shreveport Metropolitan Planning Commission Mr. Bob Winn Mr. Charles Coyle, Coyle Engineering Mr. Curtis A. Wright, Sr., Curtropolis Realty Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Services Beth King, Sealy & Dickson, L.L.C. Section 1 Section 6 Background Compatibility Analysis Introduction 1‐1 Compatibility Guidelines 6‐1 Study Purpose and Goals 1‐1 Compatibility Analysis 6‐5 Encroachment 1‐2 JLUS Areas of Concern 6‐13 Section 2 Section 7 Communication Compatibility Efforts Contents Table of Committees 2‐1 Federal Initiatives 7‐1 Surveys 2‐1 State Initiatives 7‐1 Public Participation 2‐2 Local Initiatives 7‐2 Section 8 Section 3 Compatibility Tools Military Mission Available Strategies 8‐1 History 3‐1 Planning Areas 8‐4 Current Activities 3‐1 Prioritized Actions 8‐11 Foreseeable Activities 3‐2 Installation Facilities 3‐4 Appendix Economic Impact 3‐5 Section 4 Regional Profile Demographics 4‐1 Infrastructure 4‐1 Recent Development 4‐5 Environment 4‐7 Section 5 Operational Impacts Aviation Operations 5‐1 Aviation Noise 5‐2 Air Safety 5‐7 This page left intentionally blank Background This page left intentionally blank INTRODUCTION More people begin to live and work in proximity to the noise and safety risks Barksdale Air Force Base (Barksdale AFB) is generated by military training. The presence of within the Shreveport‐Bossier City these civilian uses can in turn place pressure on metropolitan area in the northwest corner of installations to modify their operations, Louisiana, 18 miles from the Texas border and possibly compromising mission viability. This within a short drive of Dallas, New Orleans, land use conflict, referred to as encroachment, Houston, and Little Rock. Surrounding threatens the ability of the U.S. military to communities include the cities of Bossier City conduct the realistic training activities (located in Bossier Parish), Shreveport (located necessary for combat readiness. Conversely, Background in Caddo Parish), Haughton and Benton military training impacts such as noise from 1-1 (located in Bossier Parish). See Figure 1. aircraft or weapons firing can diminish quality of life for affected local residents. Established as a base in 1933, the 22,000‐acre installation has long been a significant STUDY PURPOSE AND GOALS economic and cultural driver for the region. Since 1958, Barksdale AFB has been the home In 1985, the Department of Defense’s Office of of the B‐52 bomber and now hosts the United Economic Adjustment (OEA) initiated the Joint States Air Force’s (USAF) only B‐52H combat Land Use Study (JLUS) program to create a crew training school. Today, the installation is participatory, community‐based framework for also home to the 2nd Bomb Wing, an Air addressing land use issues around military Combat Command (ACC) unit and the oldest installations. bomb wing in the USAF and serves as headquarters to the U.S. 8th Air Force, the unit The objectives of the JLUS are two‐fold: responsible for air defense and strategic bombing capabilities in the Eastern United 1. to encourage cooperative land use dStates an Europe. Other units include the planning between military installations 917th Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command and the surrounding communities; and (AFRC) tenant, the 548th Combat Training Squadron, and Green Flag East. In recent 2. to seek ways to reduce the operational years, Barksdale troops have participated in impacts of military installations on missions in the Persian Gulf, Kosovo, adjacent land. Afghanistan, and Iraq. The JLUS is as much about the process as it is Over the years, the cities and parishes around the final document. It creates a public dialogue BarksdaleB AF have grown along with the around the complex issues of land use, military, reinforcing a close economic and economic and population growth, social relationship. This interdependence raises infrastructure delivery, environmental the central challenge of the Joint Land Use sustainability, and mission change. The intent Study. of the study is to highlight common interests— attractive development, healthier As military installations expand, they bring new environments, more efficient infrastructure, people and economic activity to an area. economic prosperity, and better quality of Communities build houses, schools and life—and to protect the military mission, while infrastructure, and create new jobs to support sustaining local growth. soldiers, civilian workers, and their families. The Bossier region was an early adopter of this Designated geographic boundaries that represent coordinated approach to planning around noise and air safety impacts─the Accident military installations. Stakeholders conducted Potential Zones (APZs) and Noise Zones─extend the initial Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) in 1995. beyond property owned by Barksdale AFB and Stakeholders joined in initiating this effort to into surrounding communities. Later sections of build on the previous study by revisiting this report explore the interaction of these areas current development issues, growth trends, with nearby land uses. and evolving mission needs and strengthening planning practices at the military/civilian While noise and safety concerns can affect interface. residents living and working around the base, Background certain nearby civilian land uses that concentrate The purpose of this JLUS is to ensure that people, such as higher density housing or public 1-2 surrounding communities can sustain economic gathering places, can also threaten aviation activity without compromising the military operations. Ongoing complaints about noise and readiness activities of Barksdale Air Force Base. night flights can place pressure on Barksdale AFB to modify current operating procedures, thus The goals of the study are to: reducing realistic training capabilities or curtailing business activity and economic growth. Clarify existing land use compatibility guidance and develop effective tools for Methods of reducing and preventing assessing development around the base; encroachment include a menu of tools, such as compatible land use planning, infrastructure Increase communication between the planning, real estate disclosure, site development military and surrounding communities; requirements, operational changes on the base, and wildlife habitat conservation. One of the Evaluate the potential impacts of current purposes of the JLUS is to provide feasible and and future military operations on locally appropriate recommendations to surrounding communities; minimize encroachment potential and develop clear guidance for assessing the compatibility of Evaluate the potential impacts of local growth options. community growth on the long‐term viability of Barksdale AFB ; and The JLUS report is not a binding document, but rather an advisory report that identifies best Recommend action items to reduce practices for ensuring compatible development encroachment and facilitate future around the base. The report includes a series of collaboration. recommended policies and regulations for the Air Force and local governments to consider. It is the WHAT IS ENCROACHMENT? responsibility of each participating entity to review the proposals and