It's been announced that only two sites remain on the table for the airport expansion. One is the existing site expansion and the other is in Eaton Twp. Many of us heard this last week, and I received a notice in the mail (see side for copy).
Today, the Lansing State Journal reported that as well. What they do inside the city limits of Charlotte, we have no say in. However, for my part, I felt that they City Council of Charlotte had no right to take away our properties because they have no say in the townships. This leaves site F for all of us to still protest.
Don't quit now just because it doesn't affect you. It does, even if indirectly. If they choose the site in Eaton Twp., they are still saying that they can take property from people that cannot vote for or against them.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Lansing State Journal Article 04-16-07
CHARLOTTE - Only two relocation or expansion sites remain for the city's Fitch H. Beach Municipal Airport.
The two plans being mulled over by members of the city's Airport Advisory Committee and representatives from Mead & Hunt, a consulting firm helping the city study the matter, are:
• expand the current airport to the north and south at its current site, or
• relocate to the one remaining site in Eaton Township.
The public will get its first look at the details of the plans and the consultants' findings during a meeting scheduled from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 30 at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center.
The airport advisory committee is comprised of 26 people including city and township officials, local business people and pilots who use the airport.
Mead & Hunt was hired by the city to conduct a feasibility study on expanding the airport runway from 3,500 feet to 5,000 feet.
Kevin Mulcaster of Mead & Hunt said four other sites previously identified - including one in Walton Township, another in Carmel and expanding the existing site from east to west - were nixed in part because of the impact they would have on farmland.
Mulcaster said if the airport were expanded to the east and west, "it would have the least amount of new land that needs to be acquired since the city owns most of it."
Expanding the airport east and west would require the purchase of two residential properties. It may also impact Island Highway.
Mulcaster said if city officials were to choose that option, a detailed traffic study would be needed.
Relocating the airport to the remaining site in Eaton Township would require the purchase of 15 homes and another 27 parcels of land.
Mead & Hunt did not get total support for moving ahead with the two sites that remain.
Mulcaster said half of the committee members were in favor of it, but the other half wanted to remove the remaining township site from consideration.
Still, Mulcaster said Mead & Hunt will include that site for consideration in the completed study.
"On April 30, we're going to carry forward with sites 'A' and 'F'," he said.
"What we're going to do is present the advantages and disadvantages of each site and solicit public feedback at that time."
During the meeting, a brief presentation of the information will precede comments from the public.
Mulcaster said the meeting is limited to an hour and a half and a time limit will likely be placed on individuals who decide to speak.
Written comments will also be collected, he said.
The public will have a second opportunity to comment on the findings May 14 during a special meeting of the Charlotte City Council, at which Mead & Hunt will officially present its findings.
Officials have said a decision regarding the airport's future won't be made until after that hearing.
The two plans being mulled over by members of the city's Airport Advisory Committee and representatives from Mead & Hunt, a consulting firm helping the city study the matter, are:
• expand the current airport to the north and south at its current site, or
• relocate to the one remaining site in Eaton Township.
The public will get its first look at the details of the plans and the consultants' findings during a meeting scheduled from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 30 at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center.
The airport advisory committee is comprised of 26 people including city and township officials, local business people and pilots who use the airport.
Mead & Hunt was hired by the city to conduct a feasibility study on expanding the airport runway from 3,500 feet to 5,000 feet.
Kevin Mulcaster of Mead & Hunt said four other sites previously identified - including one in Walton Township, another in Carmel and expanding the existing site from east to west - were nixed in part because of the impact they would have on farmland.
Mulcaster said if the airport were expanded to the east and west, "it would have the least amount of new land that needs to be acquired since the city owns most of it."
Expanding the airport east and west would require the purchase of two residential properties. It may also impact Island Highway.
Mulcaster said if city officials were to choose that option, a detailed traffic study would be needed.
Relocating the airport to the remaining site in Eaton Township would require the purchase of 15 homes and another 27 parcels of land.
Mead & Hunt did not get total support for moving ahead with the two sites that remain.
Mulcaster said half of the committee members were in favor of it, but the other half wanted to remove the remaining township site from consideration.
Still, Mulcaster said Mead & Hunt will include that site for consideration in the completed study.
"On April 30, we're going to carry forward with sites 'A' and 'F'," he said.
"What we're going to do is present the advantages and disadvantages of each site and solicit public feedback at that time."
During the meeting, a brief presentation of the information will precede comments from the public.
Mulcaster said the meeting is limited to an hour and a half and a time limit will likely be placed on individuals who decide to speak.
Written comments will also be collected, he said.
The public will have a second opportunity to comment on the findings May 14 during a special meeting of the Charlotte City Council, at which Mead & Hunt will officially present its findings.
Officials have said a decision regarding the airport's future won't be made until after that hearing.
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