All Airport Plans Grounded
Studies tabled until April meeting
By Anthony Gadson
PLYMOUTH � The task of improving the Plymouth Airport took a baby step on Tuesday night as the Aviation Board of Commissioners heard public opinion on the issue.
Plymouth residents came out in full force, filling the conference room of the airport.
Most voiced their displeasure with the plans.
The board has six different options, submitted by Mid-States Engineering. Central to all of them is the proposal to expand the runway to 5,500 feet. The board looked at Option D on Tuesday.
Under Option D, the runway expansion would force three residents from their homes on 7B Road, force 7B Road to be extended to Lilac Road, routing more traffic onto Old Michigan Road. That is where the county would likely get involved.
County Commissioners Kevin Overmyer and John Zentz were at the meeting. Overmeyer, the commission president, expressed his concerns over putting more traffic on old Michigan Road.
�We think that the county should be consulted about extending to Lilac Road,� Overmeyer explained. �There are already 8,000 to 10,000 cars a day on Michigan.�
Overmyer explained that county commissioners have not been informed about any action to be taken, or ever been consulted in the matter of what the Aviation Board is planning to do.
Rick Huff, an Aviation Board member, explained the commissioners have been informed in the past and have never shown any interest in any of it.
The crowd that formed in the conference room was comprised mainly of 7B Road residents. The project, in any form, will affect them the most.
Concerns over loss of property values, loss of homes and noise were concerns echoed throughout the meeting.
There would indeed be an increase in noise pollution, because the main reason the board is hoping to expand its runway is to attract Lear jets and other, larger, aircraft used by businesses coming to Plymouth. The board is well-aware the noise will increase with expansion, but is looking for a balance and the future of business in the county seat as the reasons for expansion now.
�You have to ask yourself where do you want to be,� board member Byron Holm said.
The board must look to adjustments to the airport right now because the Federal Aviation Administration is cracking down on enforcement of rules and regulations.
The way the Plymouth Airport is currently operating dances along the edge of some of those rules. For instance, Plymouth does not have a big enough Runway Protection Zone.
The FAA is demanding the airport submit a plan on what they intend to do about updating the facility. The plan does not have to include expansion, but the board feels it is necessary for the development of the city.
Questions were also raised by residents as to why not build a new airport away from the current one, in a more rural setting. The current airport was positioned in the country when it was first built, but the city has grown to meet it. Residents fear, with the city growing and the airport staying in town, future problems are inescapable, when another expansion is needed and there is nowhere else to expand at the current site.
Holm explained that the airport is trying to keep its location to make it more convenient for pilots, who may want to use the nearby hotels and restaurants.
�It feels like we�ve been left out,� a local resident remarked. �At what cost do you push us out at the convenience of them to go eat.�
Huff had to leave the meeting early, which left the board the only option of tabling the issue until next month�s meeting. Another report had promised action at this meeting. The board had never promised such action, which upset some attendees who came under the false premise left by the other publication.
Holm stuck around another 45 minutes to hear concerns from residents. He fielded questions in an unofficial meeting to help alleviate concerns.
He kept reminding those in attendance that any decisions now are merely about plans.
�There is no money to start building today,� Holm said. �It would only be a plan, in hopes to work towards in the future.�
The next meeting will be in the conference room at the airport on April 8 at 6 p.m..
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