Grouches In Charge Say City Ordinance Bans Landings, Takeoffs

Jeffrey Walker, owner of an 80-acre plot seemingly outside the metro area, has been charged with 5 misdemeanor counts for violating Afton (MN) city restrictions. The charges mark the latest in a long-running, recurrent fight between municipal city rules, tattling neighbors, and a local aviator. 

As far back as 2005, neighbors seeing small, light aircraft landing and taking off from the airstrip have reported the activity to the sheriff's office, lodging 9 visits to the site through 2007. The city cited Walker for a city ordinance prohibiting all aircraft takeoffs and landings outside of emergencies. The airstrip on his land appears to be in development from 2004 satellite photos, and a lien from Precision Excavating & Grading from November of that year stated the company performed services for the construction of a hangar, home foundation, airstrip, building site, and facilities. 

In 2009, a court case over the disputed airfield ended with a judgement that Walker was to plant a tree in the middle of the airstrip, making it unusable. “I thought it was resolved in 2009, but apparently it wasn’t.” Said Mayor Bill Palmquist, of Afton City. “Somehow, it’s been used again, and we’re going to have to go through that whole legal process again. Airstrips are just not an allowed use in Afton. It’s disappointing that this is all having to be dealt with again.” City Attorney Fritz Knaak says that no matter the dispute, the aircraft operations in the city limits are still subject to their rules, no matter how big the surrounding private property is.

“It’s pretty obvious that the same aircraft that was reported there earlier this year was back again on Sunday. At this point, all indications lead us to believe that it is Mr. Walker using his own private airstrip to illegally land an airplane on private property. The neighbors are very angry.”

Indeed, the motive force behind the dispute has continually been the neighbors in the area, filming the occasional aircraft in the vicinity, uploading it online, and alerting the city to each incident. Such a battle is not new in the aviation industry, as continuing urban expansion, suburban development, and increasing home values turn formerly laissez-faire semi-rural communities into increasingly upscale living areas. It remains to be seen how far the city will be able to go this time, but they insist the charges are mounting for each infraction.

Each new charge a misdemeanor with a $1,000 fine, with additional daily charges mounting while the property is out of compliance, as well as each new takeoff and landing. 

FMI: www.airnav.com/airport/MY35