Protecting military bases

Escambia County, Fla., is buying land near the entrance and back gate of Naval Air Station Pensacola as part of an effort to buffer and protect the base from encroachment upon its training missions. Commissioners OK’d the spending of about $220,000 this month to buy about one-fourth of an acre of undeveloped land off south Navy Boulevard and 45 acres of undeveloped land near the intersection of Blue Angels Parkway and Gulf Beach Highway. By purchasing the land, the county is sending a message to the federal government that it is serious about supporting and protecting NASP, according to Commissioner Doug Underhill. The purchases are funded in large part by Florida’s Defense Infrastructure Grant Program. Steve Opalenik, community planning and liaison officer at NASP, says the purchase of the back gate parcel is important to ensure property under flight paths, frequently used by the base, will not be developed. Santa Rosa County, Fla., has made multiple land purchases over the years to protect NAS Whiting Field’s training missions; and earning accolades from the Defense Department for those efforts. (Source: Pensacola News Journal 06/11/18) Golden Triangle Note: Easements on rural lands along NAS Meridian, Miss.’s boundary and in high noise areas will permanently protect the bases capabilities to provide jet aviation training. NASM has been working with Lauderdale and Kemper counties to develop airport zoning ordinances and on a Joint Land Use Study to further protect the military mission.