VALDOSTA — The South Georgia Regional Development Center and Moody Air Force Base are working on a joint venture to benefit both the community and the base by combining the work of the AICUZ (Air Installations Compatible Use Zones) program with the JLUS (Joint Land Use Study) program. The application for the JLUS was made under the Department of Defense Community Planning Assistance Grant Program.

Objectives of the JLUS project include evaluating the potential impact of current and future military operations of Moody AFB on surrounding cities and counties, and the potential impacts of community and regional growth on the long-term viability of Moody AFB.

According to South Georgia RDC Assistant Executive Director Marty LeFiles, the JLUS program, now in the data collection stage, is a basic planning process designed to identify encroachment issues confronting both the civilian community and the military installation and to recommend strategies to address the issues in the context of local comprehensive/general planning programs.

“As the ULDC exposes everyone to flight patterns and noise, we would rather that you not locate in this area. JLUS is the opposite, focusing on community compatible land use planning programs affecting the base,” said Robert Jefferson, a civilian engineer with Moody. Accordingly, the JLUS program is community controlled and community directed.

The JLUS will include the counties of Lowndes, Lanier, and Berrien as these areas are affected most by encroachment, being in accident potential zones, noise, range, and special use airspace. “JLUS takes into account aircraft noise and flight patterns, everything has been taken into account. All bases have the opportunity for this type of community program,” said Jefferson.

The grant for JLUS is funded by the Office of Economic Adjustments for a total of $175,000 in grant funds for 12 months. The funds will also be matched and customized for JLUS.

The JLUS program has formed a policy committee, potentially with Parker Greene as chair, and a technical committee, consisting of Patti Clark. The technical committee’s first meeting will be at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 26. In addition, three public meetings will be held for JLUS in all three counties for citizen inputs. On Sept. 18, a regional meeting will be held in Lowndes County with meetings to follow on Jan. 22, 2009, in Berrien County and the final meeting in Lanier County on March 19, 2009.

“The Lowndes County ULDC is a very good document. We don’t want to change anything good in place, just enhance it,” said Jefferson.

Accordingly, the ultimate goal of the JLUS is to minimize potential land use conflicts, accommodate growth, sustain the regional growth, sustain the regional economy, and ensure the continued viability and growth of Moody Air Force Base.