Stafford Regional Airport Authority Chairman Hank Scharpenberg fields questions and comments from a crowd of some 70 people at the open house and town hall meeting Aug. 11.
The Stafford Regional Airport Authority and several county supervisors faced a largely hostile crowd during an open house and town hall meeting Tuesday evening at the airport.
The authority hosted the meeting to present residents with a timeline of the airport’s history, an overview of current operations and plans for expansion.
Authority members also explained their Compatible Land Use guidelines clarifying the types of construction suitable near the airport and the effects of airport operations on neighbors.
Authority Chairman Hank Scharpenberg explained that the airport is planning a runway extension that is expected to bring larger corporate jets and boost the local economy. He added that the flight path to the runway would be altered to its original plan, slightly affecting some residences in the August Forge neighborhood.
While the authority got several compliments for operations and the expansion of the airport from a trailer to a terminal, other residents were not pleased.
New home-owners complained about aircraft noise into the evening hours and the accompanying vibration. Several residents questioned the three Stafford supervisors promoting the airport expansion, Meg Bohmke, Paul Milde and Robert Thomas, who were seated on the dais. The residents wanted to know why they were not informed of airport plans before they bought houses.
Supervisor Paul Milde, Aquia District, said the authority’s Compatible Land Use plan would clarify future expansion and possible effects. He noted that he would like to incorporate the plan into the county’s Capital Improvement Plan.
Scharpenberg pointed out that any expansion of the airport would require public hearings and that the process would be transparent.
Supervisors chairman Gary Snellings, who represents the airport area and sat in the audience as did Supervisors Jack Calavier and Laura Sellers, said he voted against the airport plan in June because it’s too complicated. He added that he was reflecting the sentiments of his constituents.
Cavalier noted that the authority’s plan will have to be tweaked to make it better for residents.
He also added that it was too bad the town hall meeting did not happen before the supervisors voted down the land-use plan.
Source: http://www.insidenova.com
Visitors at the open house and town hall meeting view a map of the Stafford Regional Airport.
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