Minutes - 19890424 - Laserfiche WebLink

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aviation and this would be the type of activity that would take place at the proposed airport. ---.~ Planning Board member Dan Eddelman asked about the economic worth service and what part of that modeling is on what is already present versus an assumption that there is a housing market present to support this kind of operation. The consultant answered that the economic analysis took into account the forecast that had been developed by the consulting team as part of the airport planning exercise. There were no independent forecast made. Eddelman referred to the statement made that the economic impact analysis holds true no matter where the site is located, yet some of the sites were eliminated based on driving distance. The consultant answered that it is true that if the Orange County Airport is to be successful in the sense that it provides the kind of service that the aviation community needs and feels it wants, then obviously the facility must be reasonably convenient and attractive to use. For the purpose of the economic analysis, they assumed that an appropriate site would be selected that would permit the planning aspects to be realized. In answer to a question from Betty Eidenier about airport raise and what is attracted to the area, Gary Varga stated that .an airport does attract development around it. The type of development that would take place would be oriented to the land use controls which would be more of a business-commercial type development. With reference to the perceived noise impact of placing an airport in a rural area, they believe that when it is placed in a rural area, the noise levels are perceived to be greater than in an urban or developed area. Chris Best asked about taking into account the other regional airports in the area when choosing a site. McDowell answered that yes, they do in terms of airspace and in general terms the distance to the airport by surface travel. In answer to a question from a planning board member, the consultant stated that -.;; it is an attempt to measure the amount of spending that takes place by all the `1 parties that are active at the airport without any attempt to measure whether the ;l business is profitable or no't profitable and without respect of who is doing the spending. It represents the spending by the agency that owns the airport. and the spending by all the business on the airport premises including salaries and the indirect impact represents the spending that might take place outside the airport premises which would include where the visitors stay and eat, etc. Discussion ensued an economic impact and direct casts and indirect costs of operating an airport. With reference to additional criteria to put into the process, the Board agreed to uniformly mark down those points allocated to engineering and ease of construction and mark up points that are related to social and environmental factors. Also, the impact of the travel time and the conditions of the road and the congestion of certain areas was added to the criteria list. Barry Jacobsw asked if McDevco is aware of any professional study that addresses safety concerns at Horace Williams. Tom McDowell stated he was not aware of any safety study available oz one that will take place. Chairman Carey announced that the airport planning process does have an option for the Board of Commissioners to stop at any point in the process or to continue the process if desired. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS STEVEN LEVINE asked if the Commissioners believe that public opinion is the same as the airport owners or the pilots and -if they would be willing to submit this question to a public referendum. Chairman Carey stated that if the project is funded by bond monies, that the bond would be put to a referendum.