Housing Tract Under Air Force Flight Paths OKd

The Lancaster City Council has unanimously approved proposals that may allow construction of 1,450 homes below flight paths of an Air Force facility, despite protests by Air Force officials and residents who call the proposals a blueprint for conflict.

The developments still must go through several stages of review. But critics said Wednesday’s vote could result in the same problems that plague neighborhoods around airports nationwide: noise, pollution and battles between homeowners and airport officials.

City Council members said they voted to potentially allow two housing projects near Air Force Plant 42 because the proposals--by developers Kaufman and Broad Land Co. and Robert Sessler--were modified to provide lower-density housing in the noisiest areas.