Proposed Airport ProjectAbove is the picture of the proposed airport project. Following is a breakdown of the "meeting" on January 31, 2007 to explain this.
The Meeting
This wasn't really a meeting at all. When we arrived, there was a table in the lobby to sign in. They handed us a small packet and included in the packet was a copy of a map (shown above). After signing in, I went into a room that had easels set up. On the easels were pretty much the rest of what was in the packet. In addition they had four or five people to talk to anyone that wanted to talk and ask questions. There was no presentation other than the easels and talking to the people assigned to the room.
As the crowd became larger, it was difficult to hear people asking questions and even more difficult to hear the answers. This is what I gathered from the answers that I could hear.
1. The study was started in 2005.
2. They claim that businesses want the airport expanded to save them expenses because they now must get their goods delivered from Lansing, Jackson or Battle Creek's airports. With the airport in Charlotte, they could save on some of the transportation costs.
3. They chose 11 locations. They eliminated a few bringing it down to 8. They further reduced it down to five locations.
4. They said they had attended township meetings in recent weeks of the townships remaining on the list.
5. They will next present their proposal to the Charlotte city council on March 7, 2007.
6. The final decision will be in April of 2007.
7. There is one change to the map that they gave us. In Section H, it is in the shape of a J. They have eliminated the vertical section which is east of Matthews Road. So the proposal for H is actually from Marshall Rd, East to Matthews Road, North to Osborn Rd and west to Miller Hwy.
8. They had a matrix up on an easel, but it wasn't provided in the packet. I asked why they didn't include that in the packet and they said we could get it at their website or the Charlotte website. Their website is http://www.meadhunt.com/index.php/projects/charlotte_purpose/nc/
Note: I went to their site and could not find the matrix. I went to the Charlotte website and couldn't find any mention of the project. It may be there, but I didn't find it.
The people there to answer questions also said that this project would be decided by the Charlotte City Council. If the area selected is outside of Charlotte, the affected township can still cause it to be stopped.
My OPINION:
The people there to explain everything were from MeadHunt. They seemed to be the salespeople for this project. After hearing some of their answers to questions asked by me and others while I was there, I tried to put myself in the place of the Charlotte City Council.
Charlotte is the largest city in the area. Olivet is small. Bellevue is small, Potterville is small. Charlotte has an airport already. They could decide to use the existing airport but if I were on the council, I wouldn't want that. First of all, the airport would have to be expanded. They claim that it's not reasonable due to Island Hwy. That road would interfere, or have to be moved or eliminated.
To be on the Charlotte City Council, I'd have to live in Charlotte. I wouldn't want a larger airport there because the air traffic noise would be constantly over my house. So I'm going to want to use one of the other areas.
A benefit to the area is I-69 which runs through Charlotte. If you look at the areas around Charlotte, you'll see that much of it is farmland. However, I-69 runs close to that farm land along Marshall Rd towards Charlotte. The distance between Charlotte and Olivet seems to be greater than heading north along I-69.
Just from what I just mentioned in the previous four paragraphs, if I were on the city council, I'd chose any area away from Charlotte. I would also want it close to I-69 and the best position for that is either site I or site H.
Site L is further away from I69 and very close to Charlotte. Site F is further away from I-69, so I wouldn't even consider that one. Site A is where the airport is and they seem to have already ruled that one out, despite it being on the list. This leaves the two sites to the south.
Site I comes right up to I-69 and site H comes within a mile of I-69. There is already an exit at site I, which is at Five point/Cochran and Marshall Roads. However, if site H was chosen, there is an exit at Ainger Road, and it would be four miles to the Charlotte Exit at Cochran Rd. It would be very easy to put another exit at Stein Rd for an airport if they chose Site H.
Unfortunately, the only decision that matters at this point is the Charlotte City Council. Those of us that don't live in CHarlotte are stuck with their decision if we're the site chosen. I believe the site that they'll choose will be either site I or site H.
I live right in the middle of site H. Should either of those sites be chosen, I won't like it. If site I is chosen, I'll be left with the noise from the airport. If site H is chosen, I'm in the part that will be taken.
I have the packet that was handed out and am willing to e-mail it if anyone needs it. You can write me at BYoung7411@yahoo.com.
I welcome your comments.
Brett
7 comments:
Hi Brett ,
We left their feeling to a "T" what you felt. We firmly believe they are either going to pick "I" or "H". More so "H" due to hwy exits close by. We also feel another reason as to why they are doing this is: More rich folks can fly in a create more Business`s for Michigan. Since most are pulling out of here and Michigan is going down hill. Does that sound crazy ?
It doesn't sound crazy at all to me. The economic numbers came out yesterday. The nation's economy grew by 3.5% last quarter. 3.4% for the entire year. That's NATIONALLY. Then you look at Michigan and you see that our growth is at negative 6.6% (that's a polite way of saying we're losing now growing) and unemployment is at 7.1% in Michigan while it's 4.5% nationally. The answer to this is the same answer we've gotten for the past four years from the Governor and the legislature in Michigan. Raise taxes. Which means this state will continue to fail for another four years. I told someone yesterday that when I leave the state, I'm putting a sign up at the border to Indiana that says "Last one out, please turn off the lights".
From a business perspective, this airport is a good idea for Charlotte. It's not good for Olivet nor Walton Twp because they'll be dealing with planes flying over their homes. From a tax perspective, it's good for Walton Twp because they'll get an increase in taxes from the airport and businesses that are sure to go around the new airport.
The only ones that it's not good for is the people that live here. I guess the question to ask is, when was the last time that the State, County, or local government served the best interests of the citizens?
I'm looking for the laws of eminent domain because it's mentioned in the papers. I thought the legislature passed a law saying it wasn't going to happen in Michigan, but with my cynical view of the State of Michigan, I expect that there is a way around it and the legislation was to just make people feel good.
Brett
Another thing we find "ODD" is that in 2006 Mathews Rd got paved only to Osborn Rd. MM kinda funny that is where it shows they were going to stop . Another thing that is "odd" the Big wig on the Walton Board lives at the end of Miller Hwy and Marshal rd. His house is included and he had sold off most of his property back in 2005. Fact or Fiction ? I think we are doomed !
If people want to stop this, the only way to do it is to go to the board meeting for the township and tell them that they are against it. But I'm afraid it will take more than just a couple of people. It will take alot of people.
One of those salespeople I talked to last night, I had asked when this process began and he said in 2005. I think there are a few that are on the Walton board and the City Council in Charlotte that were letting people know.
I'm an investment advisor. If I had done something similar, it would be called "insider trading" and I'd be put in jail for a few years and come out with a debt of anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000...oh and I wouldn't have a job either.
So are they still thinking of Benton Township ? If so what letter is that on the map ? I also heard a rumor for those up against "H" on this thing. I heard that if you are located on Miller Hwy and you don`t want to sell. They will let you keep your home with 1 acre of land. They are saying if "H" is what they pick then the Airport will be located in the middle of Miller Hwy and Osborn Rd. So they can possibly leave those homes. But with very little land.
If you look at the map, you'll see the areas that are supposedly in play. I don't know where Benton Twp is so I can't answer your question. You should be able to zoom in on the map that I've posted by right clicking it and hitting zoom.
I haven't heard about anyone being able to keep one acre of land. To be honest, it doesn't make any sense. I have just three acres in the middle of site H. According to the girl at the 'open house", when she dragged her finger across where the runway would be, it went right through my property.
That wouldn't leave an acre for me to keep. As I understand it, if this goes through, under the proposal passed by the people of the state of Michigan in Novemeber 2006, they will have to give everyone 125% of fair market value to take property.
I do know that the Walton Twp board is against it, as is the Eaton Twp. board. I believe that those two sites (I and H) are the best sites for what they are looking for because of their proximity to I-69.
Brett
I say 125% is fair. I bet if you hold out til the bitter end you could get more possibly. I hear all these meetings have been standing room only pretty much.
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