State Journal, 22 March 2013 – Second Street Plans Back to Drawing Board

The commission also received a short update on the Joint Land Use Study regarding the Boone National Guard Center. A PowerPoint presentation on part of the study, which is being funded with a $130,000 U.S. Defense Department grant, showed that the relocation of a helipad will mean the flight path for helicopters landing at the base will now line up with that of fixed-wing aircraft.

That means a large portion of Frankfort north of the base toward Benson Valley Road and the West Frankfort Connector Bridge will have a reduction in helicopter noise. But areas in South Frankfort and U.S. 60 West, where currently only fixed-wing aircraft fly through, will deal with higher decibel levels from helicopters.

The Joint Land Use Study is an effort to help the military and community cooperate better as the base expands, possibly bringing in more aircraft and personnel, which could impact the tax base, traffic, housing and class sizes, said County Planning Director Robert Hewitt.