A request to rezone 9.53 acres near the Vinland Airport for residential use was withdrawn from consideration earlier this week by the owners of McFarlane Aviation Inc.

Douglas County commissioners had planned to discuss the matter at a Wednesday night meeting.

Dave and Dan McFarlane, owners of the aviation company, wanted the rezoning so the property could be divided into three lots.

An airpark was planned with two houses and hangar construction. An old house is already on the property and would have been renovated, they said.

The proposal, however, did not fly with the Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission. Some neighbors also had sent letters expressing opposition to the proposal.

Objections centered on the plan not being in line with land use recommendations in Horizon 2020, the city-county planning document. Questions also were raised about the safety of placing houses near the end of a runway and under a flight path.

Dave McFarlane said safety considerations were made in developing the proposal.

“What really baffles me, I’d like to know where the expertise is on the planning commission on airport safety,” he said. “We’ve operated an airport for 30 years here and deal with aviation safety every day.”

Dave McFarlane also said he thought the plan was in compliance with Horizon 2020. But he said the proposal was withdrawn because of neighbor opposition.

“We’re just going to scrap the project,” he said.