To: Friedman Memorial Airport Authority, City of Hailey, Idaho, and Blaine County Commissioners
Stop Airport Expansion
We, the undersigned, insist that the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority Board remove from the draft Master Plan which is currently under consideration, language which includes options to expand the airport outside of its current boundary and-- that Alternative 7 not be included or used as the "basis for future facility configuration planning and subsequent chapters of [the] master plan."
Why is this important?
The Friedman Memorial Airport Authority (FMAA) Board is in the process of considering alternatives to their Master Plan which include expanding the airport outside of its current boundary and moving Highway 75 closer to homes—also setting the stage for larger, more intrusive, projects. Future projects are not necessary, and if approved by the FMAA board, projects such as Alternative 7, 5, and 4, would negatively impact the residents of Hailey, Bellevue, and those living in the Bellevue Triangle with increased noise and air pollution.
Specifically and of immediate concern, within the draft of FMAA's Master Plan which is currently under consideration is Alternative 7. Alternative 7 would allow airport expansion outside of its current boundary in order to build more aircraft parking spaces, relocate Highway 75 further to the east and closer to the homes and bicycle trail in Hailey's Woodside subdivision, and sets the "basis for future facility configuration planning and subsequent chapters of [the] master plan."
FMAA's support of Alternative 7 is being presented as solving the issues caused by the 2014 and 2015 projects which relocated the taxiway. However, by allowing Alternative 7 to be included in the Master Plan the floodgate for future expansion projects will open which will have the effect of delaying, perhaps stopping, airport relocation.
If Alternative 7 is accepted into FMAA's Master Plan, other alternatives like Alternative 4 and Alternative 5 could see a resurgence in consideration. Alternative 4 calls for the ranch land between Bellevue and the Airport (west of Highway 75) to be annexed into airport property and relocates the entire runway to this parcel; Alternative 4 poses the very real threat of condemning Bellevue's Chantrelle neighborhood due to intolerable decibel levels caused by aircraft. Alternative 5 would expand the current runway further south into a portion of this same ranch land in order to accommodate a longer runway/larger aircraft.
The construction projects of 2014 and 2015 are nearly finished and, once completed this Fall, will have addressed the concerns of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
Now is the time for the citizens of the Wood River Valley to speak up and insist on a fundamental shift in decision making regarding the future of Friedman Memorial Airport. What with Friedman Memorial Airport on the verge of appeasing the FAA with the completion of taxiway, terminal, and air operations building projects--the inadequacies which still plague this airport (lack of parking, the poorly placed control tower, length of runway too short for large jets, etc) must be used as reasons for relocation—not as reasons for additional investment.
By signing this petition, you agree that future changes (especially Alternative 7) to Friedman Memorial Airport are not necessary and would be contrary to moving this airport to a new location. You agree that Friedman Memorial Airport must stay within its current boundary and, synonymously, that Alternative 7 be kept out of Friedman Memorial Airport's Master Plan. Please sign this petition and tell the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority Board, the Blaine County Commissioners, and the City of Hailey, that you do not want Friedman Memorial Airport to expand outside of its current boundary.
Specifically and of immediate concern, within the draft of FMAA's Master Plan which is currently under consideration is Alternative 7. Alternative 7 would allow airport expansion outside of its current boundary in order to build more aircraft parking spaces, relocate Highway 75 further to the east and closer to the homes and bicycle trail in Hailey's Woodside subdivision, and sets the "basis for future facility configuration planning and subsequent chapters of [the] master plan."
FMAA's support of Alternative 7 is being presented as solving the issues caused by the 2014 and 2015 projects which relocated the taxiway. However, by allowing Alternative 7 to be included in the Master Plan the floodgate for future expansion projects will open which will have the effect of delaying, perhaps stopping, airport relocation.
If Alternative 7 is accepted into FMAA's Master Plan, other alternatives like Alternative 4 and Alternative 5 could see a resurgence in consideration. Alternative 4 calls for the ranch land between Bellevue and the Airport (west of Highway 75) to be annexed into airport property and relocates the entire runway to this parcel; Alternative 4 poses the very real threat of condemning Bellevue's Chantrelle neighborhood due to intolerable decibel levels caused by aircraft. Alternative 5 would expand the current runway further south into a portion of this same ranch land in order to accommodate a longer runway/larger aircraft.
The construction projects of 2014 and 2015 are nearly finished and, once completed this Fall, will have addressed the concerns of the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
Now is the time for the citizens of the Wood River Valley to speak up and insist on a fundamental shift in decision making regarding the future of Friedman Memorial Airport. What with Friedman Memorial Airport on the verge of appeasing the FAA with the completion of taxiway, terminal, and air operations building projects--the inadequacies which still plague this airport (lack of parking, the poorly placed control tower, length of runway too short for large jets, etc) must be used as reasons for relocation—not as reasons for additional investment.
By signing this petition, you agree that future changes (especially Alternative 7) to Friedman Memorial Airport are not necessary and would be contrary to moving this airport to a new location. You agree that Friedman Memorial Airport must stay within its current boundary and, synonymously, that Alternative 7 be kept out of Friedman Memorial Airport's Master Plan. Please sign this petition and tell the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority Board, the Blaine County Commissioners, and the City of Hailey, that you do not want Friedman Memorial Airport to expand outside of its current boundary.