Approach mitigation study narrows affected properties; legal outreach, public meetings planned

Airport consultant Barge has refined the scope of an approach mitigation study and reduced the number of affected lots from a much larger set to roughly 20, staff told the commission.

Chad said Barge used data provided by previous studies to identify which trees and obstructions would need removal to achieve required approach clearances: “They have done a yeoman's job… they've discerned all those dots with the mission of what does it take to get the threshold moved back,” he said. The goal is to clear the 20:1 slope and consider anything that could penetrate a 34:1 surface over a five‑ to ten‑year horizon.

Staff said the consultant’s findings have been given to the city legal department and to W. D. Schoch for preparation of outreach and property‑acquisition steps. Chad said the airport will pursue navigation easements to cover the approach corridor rather than piecemeal purchases and anticipates some instances where individual tree removals or small adjustments may still be needed.

Chad said the next steps include estimated construction costs from the consultant, coordination with the state aeronautics division and the FAA for funding priorities, and public meetings to brief neighbors and take questions. “That will include probably some public meetings here to educate and address and take in questions and answers from the neighbors,” he said.

Commissioners asked whether needed property was within existing easements; Chad said some “wings” of the approach extend beyond the rectangular easement and that the city will need to acquire additional navigation easements to fully clear the approach. The commission did not take final action on acquisitions at the meeting; staff will return with cost estimates and an outreach plan.