A request for a permit to allow use of a private airplane runway near Baldwin City was rejected Wednesday night by a majority of the Douglas County Commission.

Commissioners Bob Johnson and Charles Jones voted against issuing a conditional-use permit, citing the potential for problems as the area’s population increases and safety concerns expressed by the county planning staff.

Justin Johnson requested the permit for his property at 2142 N. 300 Road. He had already built the strip, and he said he didn’t know that a permit was needed.

The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Department recommended denial of the permit because of concerns that some nearby residences were close to the runway. Noise from a plane also could be a problem, the staff report said.

The denial recommendation was made despite letters provided by neighbors saying they supported Justin Johnson and did not believe there was a safety problem.

“I’m not going to vote for something that the planning staff has safety concerns for,” Bob Johnson said.

Jones said Justin Johnson’s property is in a prime area for future development and he expected the population density to increase. The area would become increasingly unsuitable for an airstrip, he said.

Commissioner Jere McElhaney said he favored approving the conditional-use permit, which would have been reviewed after five years and would expire after 10 years. He noted other private landing strips in the county that are also close to houses.

Justin Johnson and his Overland Park attorney, Curtis Holland, argued that the runway is safe, especially because it is longer (2,000 feet) than most private runways. Justin Johnson can reapply for a permit.

In other business, commissioners:

¢ Approved rezoning about 40 acres at 671 N. 1550 Road from agriculture to suburban home residential. The property belongs to Bruce and Cynthia Byers. They want to divide the property into three single-family lots.

¢ Approved a conditional-use permit for construction of a 60-by-120-foot building for boat storage at Fred’s Boat Storage, 568 N. 1800 Road. The owner is George F. Roll.

¢ Approved revisions to zoning regulations that add self-storage facilities to the list of permitted conditional uses.

¢ Received a petition from residents seeking creation of a benefit district to pay for improvements and maintenance to North 600 Road from East 1700 Road to East 1750 Road.

¢ Appointed Chris Cheek and Charles Garzillo to the Douglas County Fair board of directors. Cheek represents Lecompton Township. Garzillo represents Willow Springs Township.

¢ Appointed Bruce Liese, of Lecompton, to the ECO2 Commission.