Appendix C Public Involvement C.pdfproject. Preconditioning the airport master planning study in...

Appendix C Public Involvement

1. Screen shot of project website 2. Summary of written public comments received 3. Public meeting notes 4. MSB resolution

1. Screen shot of project website

2. Summary of written public comments received

Number Date Source Keywords Comment/Question Response/Resolution Comment Source Contact1 4/11/2017 Email Updated

proposalsThank you for sending out the notice regarding the upcoming meeting on the Big Lake airport master plan.

Prior to the first hearing earlier this year, I submitted some comments. While the notice for the second hearing calls for additional comments, there doesn't appear to be any updated proposals posted online.

Is there any updated proposals or new materials available to review for updated comments?

Thank you.

Email John BitneyPO Box 521072Big Lake, AK 99652(907) 317-0038 c.

2 4/12/2017 Email I appreciate the opportunity to evaluate and provide feedback on coming proposals regarding changes, updates, or expansion plans for the Big Lake Airport.

I am a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church which borders the airport property. I also am a pilot who has on occasion used the Big Lake Airport.

Thank you for the opportunity to view plans and potentially provide feedback.

Email Michael Von [email protected] 841-3969 personal cell

3 5/17/2017 Email Alternatives Greetings, I wanted to comment on the proposals for the Big Lake Master Plan. I support either alternative developments C1 or C2. If funding from the FAA can be granted to develop either concept, I think we should pursue it from the standpoint of increased safety and expanded airport development. Its obvious with Borough growth, that Big Lake airport is likely to get a larger share of aviation traffic in the future.

Email Norman ChanceMatsu Aviation Advisory Board [email protected]

4 5/22/2017 Email Alternatives I attended the May 8th open house and examined the various airport development alternatives presented by DOWL. In the process, I noticed a glaring defect - None of the alternatives included the acquisition of additional land for the airport. When I asked why that was, I was told that DOT&PF had decided there would be no land acquisition considered under this master project. Preconditioning the airport master planning study in this way is ignoring reality and condemning the airport to retarded growth and ultimate failure.

One of the fundamental questions every master plan study should answer is whether or not the existing airport reserve is large enough to accommodate future growth of airport facilities and protect the airport from the encroachment of incompatible land uses. In my opinion, the Big Lake Airport is grossly under-sized for the future. The land on the airport that is readily usable for private sector development is virtually all under lease. And, there is current demand for more lease lots. So, there is already a shortage of airport land suitable for leasing. Some gerrymandering of existing airport facilities might provide a little more leasing space. However, to take the position, without study, that there will be no need for additional land at the airport during the 20-year scope of this master plan is ludicrous.

Big Lake is a steadily growing community and much of that growth is moving in the direction of the airport. In not too many years, subdivisions will surround the airport, choking off aviation growth and hindering operational safety. What will DOT&PF do then? Shrug and abandon the airport, leaving a growing community without a public airport?!

DOT&PF leadership has often stated that they would like to transfer state airports on the road system to local municipalities. Although two attempts have failed in the past, a city will eventually be established at Big Lake. However, no fiscally competent city is going to take over an airport that DOT&PF has predisposed to failure by poor planning. If DOT&PF wants to eventually convey the Big Lake Airport to the future city of Big Lake, the department had better acquire the private land that currently surrounds the airport, correct the existing deficiencies, and develop facilities so that the airport will be financially self-sufficient and capable of receiving federal grant funding (DOT&PF may be able to get by operating an airport without federal grants, but a small city could not).

DOT&PF should acquire:

1. On the north: All the private land between Aero Lane and the existing airport boundary.2. On the south: All of the private land within 600 feet of the existing airport boundary between Oscar Anderson road on the

Email Steve PavishPO Box 1075Willow, AK [email protected]

5 6/2/2017 Letter on behalf of client Jeanne Mielke (email from HUGHES WHITE COLBO WILCOX & TERVOOREN, LLC)

General, Alternatives

See attached letter.

1 2/7/2017 Open House Taxiway Taxiway - 07-25 Very Rough - Taxiway ditches are extreme drop-off. Taxiway 07-25 goes through parking area (transient). Run up Asphalt @ 25 end.

User John Rush: [email protected]

1 5/8/2017 Open House No. 2 Leasing, Fuel Provided plenty of leasing for business and fuel accs Richard [email protected]

3. Public meeting notes

Big Lake Airport Master Plan Public Open House #1 1 February 7, 2017

Big Lake Airport Master Plan Open House #1

Meeting Notes

Date: 2/7/17 Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm Location: Big Lake Lions Recreation Center, 2942 Lions Circle, Big Lake, AK

Staff Attendees: Tom Middendorf (DOWL) Steve Banse(DOT) Leah Henderson (DOWL) Kimber Amundson (DOT) Mark Mayo (DOWL) Vickie Swain (DOT) Christopher Cole (DOWL)

Public Open House #1 Summary: On Tuesday, February 7, 2017, the Big Lake Airport Master Plan hosted its first public open house. The

purpose of this meeting was to introduce the Master Plan Update project team, describe the master

plan purpose, process, and public involvement opportunities, and collect input on master plan issues.

From 7:00-7:30pm, a public open house featured posters showing the Master Plan schedule, agenda,

inventory, issues, and preliminary draft forecast. Leah Henderson of DOWL gave a presentation at

7:30pm, followed by public input on issues, questions, and comments facilitated by Leah Henderson.

Advertising

E-newsletters/meeting reminders – distributed 01/25/17 and 02/03/17

State of Alaska Online Public Notice--published 01/19/17

Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Classifieds – published 01/22/17, 01/25/17, 01/27/17, 01/29/17, 02/01/17

Big Lake Community Council Notified—distributed 01/18/17


Attendance

22 people signed in to the event. The sign-in sheet resulted in 20 new email addresses being added to

the distribution list.

Media Coverage

There was no media coverage for the event.

Meeting Materials

Handouts (agenda, comment sheets, schedule, postcard mailer)

PowerPoint Presentation

Station posters o Agenda o Schedule o Historical Data o Inventory o Aerial o Issues and Needs o Draft Preliminary Air Traffic Forecast

Meeting Presentation: Leah Henderson gave a presentation on the following topics:

1. Introductions 2. What is a Master Plan? 3. Why do a Master Plan? 4. Master Plan Schedule 5. Issues and Needs 6. Preliminary Draft Forecast 7. Discussion/Questions and Answers 8. Next Steps 9. Contact Us


Discussion/Questions and Answers:

The questions and answer session lasted for 30 minutes. Questions and answers below are a synopsis of the meeting’s questions and answer session. When appropriate, Master Plan Team responses have been supplemented to supply complete responses. Question from the public: Are most of the meetings going to be here (Big Lake Rec Center)?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Yes.

Question from the public: Who decides whether an airport should be obligated and do we have any

input on that decision?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: DOT&PF and FAA will decide and this master plan process is how

you can have input on that decision.

Question from the public: Do Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) training flights count as an operation?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Only if the aircraft touches the ground. We are aware that Big

Lake sees quite a bit of training activity.

Question from the public: What is the timetable for airport improvements?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Timeframe will be proposed in the master plan capital

improvement program (CIP), but the timetable will be subject to many factors that will come into play

after the master plan is completed. CIP timing is partly affected by whether the airport is obligated and

eligible for FAA funding. It will depend on competing projects at other airports. It will be influenced by

DOT&PF giving highest priority to rural airports not on the road system. Airport improvements proposed

in the first 5 years of the capital improvement program will be more certain than projects proposed for

later in the 20 year planning period.

Question from the public: If the airport gets federal dollars, will access to the airport change? Will you

have to fence everything?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Fencing is not mandatory with FAA funding, but the FAA will want

access to be safe and if airplane access to off airport properties is provided, off –airport property owners

would have to enter into an FAA approved access agreement with the DOT&PF, would pay a fee for the

access, and would have to pay for any improvements required to provide safe access. The FAA would

have to approve the location of any access points, and they require that the number of access points

minimized.


Question from the public: Is there an application for a boundary permit, and if so how long is it good

for?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Yes, the application fee is $100, an annual $500 fee must be paid,

and the permit is good for 5 years.

Question from the public: Has DOT applied for federal funding for Big Lake Airport?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Only for minor maintenance projects which have a very limited

term of grant funding obligation for the airport.

Question from the public: The State platted taxiway access for adjacent residences in the 60’s. Doesn’t that plat mean that the State must guarantee taxiway access to off-airport property owners? Answer from the Master Plan Team: We are aware of the platted taxiway. We will investigate whether this guarantees airplane access. If anyone wishes to have access from off airport residential property, they should contact DOT&PF Leasing staff. Question from the public: There is a rumor that fence material is in Anchorage and ready to be installed at Big Lake Airport. Is there any truth to the rumor? Answer from the Master Plan Team: No truth. Question from the public: Are you able to make FAA/Non-FAA development options? Will it lock us into funding? Answer from the Master Plan Team: State funding will always be an option for airport improvement projects regardless of whether the airport also accepts grants from the FAA. However, State funds are harder to get for airports. Question from the public: Is creating new lease lots a benefit for this airport or going to cost more for DOT? Answer from the Master Plan Team: Both. New lease lots would generate additional revenue for the airport but maintenance costs would also be expected to rise. Comment from the public: 12 months seems like a pretty aggressive schedule. Question from the public: Can you tell me about adverse possession? Answer from the Master Plan Team: According to Wikipedia, adverse possession is a method of acquiring title to real property by possession for a statutory period under certain conditions. We are not lawyers. However, it is our understanding that in some cases a governmental entity can acquire property from an individual by contending adverse possession, or an individual can acquire property in the manner from another individual, but an individual cannot acquire property in this manner from a governmental entity.


Big Lake Airport Master Plan Open House #2

Meeting Notes

Date: 5/8/17 Time: 7:00pm-9:00pm Location: Big Lake Lions Recreation Center, 2942 Lions Circle, Big Lake, AK

Staff Attendees: Tom Middendorf (DOWL) Rebecca Rauf (DOT) Leah Henderson (DOWL) Kimber Amundson (DOT) Mark Mayo (DOWL) Vickie Swain (DOT) Allen Kemplen (DOT)

Public Open House #1 Summary: On Monday, May 8, 2017, the Big Lake Airport Master Plan hosted its second public open house. The

purpose of this meeting was to re-introduce the Master Plan Update project team; describe the master

plan purpose, process, and public involvement opportunities; review the inventory of existing

conditions, forecast of future activity; and discuss facility requirements and alternative improvement

scenarios. From 7:00-7:30pm, the public open house featured posters showing the Master Plan

schedule, agenda, inventory, issues, and preliminary draft forecast. Leah Henderson of DOWL gave a

presentation at 7:30pm, followed by public input on issues, questions, and comments facilitated by Leah

Henderson.

Advertising

E-newsletters/meeting reminders – distributed 04/11/17 and 05/02/17

State of Alaska Online Public Notice--published 04/06/17

Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman Classifieds – published 04/05/17 and 04/30/17

Big Lake Community Council Notified—distributed 04/27/17

Big Lake Times – published 5/3/2017


Attendance

24 people signed in to the event. Email addresses for attendees not already on the project mailing list

will be added.

Media Coverage

There was no media coverage for the event.

Meeting Materials

Handouts (agenda, comment sheets)

PowerPoint Presentation

Station posters o Agenda o Schedule o Historical Data o Inventory o Aerial o Issues and Needs o Draft Preliminary Air Traffic Forecast o Development Alternatives A, B1, B2, C1, C2 o Alternative Evaluation Tables (4)

Meeting Presentation: Leah Henderson gave a presentation on the following topics:

1. Introductions 2. Agenda 3. Master Plan Purpose 4. Master Plan Process 5. Obligating the Airport 6. Aircraft Activity Forecast 7. Facility Requirements 8. Land Use Findings 9. Airport Development Alternatives A, B1, B2, C1, C2 10. Discussion/Questions and Answers 11. Next Steps 12. Contact Us


Discussion/Questions and Answers:

The questions and answer session lasted for 30 minutes. Questions and answers below are a synopsis of the meeting’s questions and answer session. When appropriate, Master Plan Team responses have been supplemented to supply complete responses.

Question from the public: Two years ago DOT&PF said they were not accepting boundary crossing

applications at Big Lake Airport. Are they now accepting them?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: We are not sure how you were given that impression. DOT&PF

staff in the room tonight confirms that they have been willing to consider boundary crossing applications

and are happy to discuss them further with you tonight. However, applying for a boundary crossing

permit does not guarantee that you will get one. DOT&PF has a standard review process they will use to

evaluate whether a permit should be granted.

Question from the public: Under Option C2 would the homes in the transitional surface need to be

purchased?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Purchase would be one option. Another option might be to add

hazard lights to the buildings. FAA would need to weigh in on an acceptable and safe way to deal with

the potential hazard.

Question from the public: Under Option B2, why are you shortening the runway?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: To remove the hazard of having buildings in the Runway Protection

Zone.

Question from the public: Have you prepared costs for the alternatives?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: We do not have developed detailed cost estimates yet, but we

know that as you move from A to C2 each successive alternative is more expensive than the prior one.

The Recommended Alternative will likely have elements of several of the alternatives.

Question from the public: Are you doing anything to improve instrument approaches?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: Once we get survey data we will be able to confirm what is needed

to improve approaches. We believe we can improve minimums to ¾ mile with some obstacle removal.

Question from the public: Will the location of existing buildings in the transitional surface prevent

renovations of these existing building?

Answer from the Master Plan Team: We will discuss that with the FAA.


Alternative Evaluation Dot Exercise:

After the group discussion each attendee was given four red dots and four green dots to participate in an

evaluation exercise. Attendees were asked to place one green dot on their favorite runway; taxiway,

roads, ramps; tiedowns and lease areas; and other alternatives. Attendees were asked to do the same

with their least favorite by using the red dot. Results are shown in the table below. Most attendees

preferred Alternative C1 or C2 options. Between the two C Alternatives, there was a slight preference for

the runway not to be shifted south, for the tiedown apron to be relocated and redeveloped as lease lots,

and for a full perimeter fence.

Table 1. Public Open House Alternative Evaluation

Public Written Comments:

One written public comment was received during the POH. The comment suggested the master plan

provide plenty of leasing space for businesses and access to fuel. This comment was logged by the

Master Plan team.

Alternative

A B 1 B 2 C 1 C 2

Green Red Green Red Green Red Green Red Green Red Total votes

Runway 0 4 2 1 1 8 8 0 4 1 29

Taxiway, Roads, Ramps 0 10 1 2 1 2 9 0 9 0 34

Tiedowns and Lease Areas 0 8 4 0 4 0 3 0 6 0 25

Other 0 11 0 2 0 0 5 0 8 0 26

Total 0 33 7 5 6 10 25 0 27 1

Green - Favorite Option

Red - Least Favorite Option

4. MSB resolution

Appendix C Public Involvement C.pdfproject. Preconditioning the airport master planning study in...

Documents

Transcript of Appendix C Public Involvement C.pdfproject. Preconditioning the airport master planning study in...