Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District Requirements
The Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District in the City of Bentonville manages land use across four safety zones to ensure safe flight operations and protect ground-level property. All new developments in this district must provide an avigation easement, achieve 30 decibels (db) of sound attenuation for noise-sensitive uses, and adhere to strict use prohibitions in high-risk areas near the runways. Residential dwellings and places of public assembly are entirely prohibited within Zones 1, 2, and 3 of the district.
Overview of the XNA Airport Overlay District
The City of Bentonville established the Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District to provide protection to people and property on the ground and to protect the airport from the encroachment of non-compatible land uses that may interfere with the safe operation of the airport [Section 401.13(a)]. The district is divided into four distinct zones, each with its own set of geographic boundaries and use restrictions [Section 401.13(c)].
District Zones
The following table defines the boundaries and characteristics of the zones within the Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District:
| Zone | Name | Description/Boundaries |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) | A trapezoidal area beyond the runway ends. Must remain open/undeveloped and contained entirely on airport property. |
| Zone 2 | Inner Safety/Turning Zone (ISTZ) | A triangular area on each side of Zone 1. Extends approximately 5,000 feet from the inner width of Zone 1 within a 60-degree sector. |
| Zone 3 | Outer Safety Zone (OSZ) | A rectangular area centered on the runway, 1,000 feet wide overall. Extends approximately 5,000 feet beyond Zone 2. |
| Zone 4 | Traffic Pattern Zone (TPZ) | Extends approximately 6,000 feet on each side of the runway, following the arc pattern of Zone 2 beyond the runway ends. |
[Section 401.13(c)]
General Provisions and Performance Standards
The City of Bentonville mandates several general safety and environmental standards that apply to property owners within the Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District.
| Requirement Type | Applicable Zones | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Glare | Zones 1, 2, 3 | No glare-producing material (including metal building exteriors) that interferes with aircraft maneuvering. |
| Lighting | Zones 1, 2, 3 | No flashing, blinking, or upward-projecting lights that interfere with a pilot's ability to identify airport lights. |
| Visibility | Zones 1, 2, 3 | No smoke, steam, or obscuring phenomena that impairs visibility or endangers the public. |
| Electronic Interference | Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 | No structure or use may create electrical interference with navigational signals or radio/radar communications. |
| Wildlife Hazards | Zones 1, 2, 3 | Uses with the potential to attract wildlife that threatens aviation safety are prohibited. |
| Sound Attenuation | Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 | Noise-sensitive uses (schools, homes, hospitals) must achieve a minimum 30 db noise reduction from outside to indoor levels. |
| Avigation Easements | Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 | Granting of an avigation easement is required prior to issuing a building permit; plat notification is required on all plats. |
[Section 401.13(d)]
Land Use Restrictions
Land uses within the Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District are strictly regulated based on the designated zone.
Zone 1 Restrictions
Within Zone 1 (RPZ), the City of Bentonville prohibits all land uses [Section 401.13(f)(1)].
Zones 2 and 3 Prohibited Uses
In Zones 2 and 3, all uses allowed in the base zoning district are generally permitted unless they are specifically listed as prohibited. The following uses are expressly prohibited by the City of Bentonville in Zones 2 and 3:
- Places of Public Assembly: Not designed for airport patrons (e.g., adult day care, child care, schools, hospitals, religious facilities, theaters, museums, arenas, and community centers).
- Residential Uses: Single-family, multi-family, manufactured homes, and assisted living facilities.
- Safety/Infrastructure Hazards: Correctional facilities, jails, transmission towers/stations, and wind turbines.
- Industrial/Waste Hazards: Mining, solid waste disposal, and above-ground bulk hazardous material storage.
- Operational Yards: Contractor maintenance yards, salvage yards, or storage yards for concrete mixing, coal, or stone.
- Communication: Wireless communication facilities.
[Section 401.13(f)(2-3)]
Zone 4 Restrictions
Within Zone 4 (TPZ), the City of Bentonville allows uses permitted in the base zoning district, including conditional uses, with one primary exception: manufactured homes are prohibited [Section 401.13(f)(4)].
Height Limitations
All structures within the Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District must comply with the Height Hazard Zoning Ordinance prepared by the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Authority. Any development within the district is required to supply a height certificate issued by the FAA to the City of Bentonville Planning Department [Section 401.13(e)].
Sections Cited
- Section 401.13 Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport Overlay District
- Section 401.13(a) Description and purpose
- Section 401.13(c) Zones within the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Overlay District
- Section 401.13(d) General provisions
- Section 401.13(e) Height limitations
- Section 401.13(f) Use restrictions