Officials at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts, are studying the impact of the base on the surrounding area.
The t Land Use Study is happening because the federal government requires air bases to examine their relationship with local communities periodically.
Westover will survey residents of Chicopee, Granby, Ludlow, South Hadley and Springfield to learn of any concerns. One obvious one? Noise.
The study will also look at zoning ordinances in those places, according to Westover's Jack Moriarty.
"We want to make sure that they're not allowing development at the accident potential zones at the end of the runway," he said. "It becomes less of a problem as you go down the extended flight path."
Moriarty said the federal government can't regulate where building happens outside the base but that nearby cities and towns are typically receptive to Westover's requests.
The study should take a year to complete.
