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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 02/07/1996 APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION FEBRUARY 7, 1996 7:00 P.M. City Center Prairie Rooms A& B 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie COMMISSION MEMBERS: Kent Barker, Marge Bundgaard, Peter, Keller, Rob Kilpatrick, Kate Laseski,Alan Nitchman, Gary Schmidt STAFF: Scott A. Kipp, Planner, and Barbara Anderson, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Rob Kilpatrick called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Marge Bundgaard and Kate Laseski were absent. Roy Fuhrman and John Foggia from MAC were also present. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Keller moved, Barker seconded, to approve the Agenda as submitted. Motion carried unanimously. II. APPROVAL OF DECEMBER 6, 1995 MINUTES Alan Nitchman asked for a correction on page 4 referring to his statement on MAC's commitment to the Noise Abatement Program. He said that MAC has made, and continues to make an effort to reinforce the abatement program. MOTION: Keller moved, Barker seconded to approve the Minutes of the December 6, 1995 Meeting of the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission as amended. Motion carried unanimously. Roy Fuhrman commented that MAC has been concerned about the Noise Abatement Program at Flying Cloud Airport, and he felt the Minutes indicated otherwise. III. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. MAC General Aviation Seminar- January 16, 1996 Schmidt reported on the MAC General Aviation Seminar which was held on January 16, 1996 and noted that it dealt with a number of reliever airport issues, including the Flying Cloud Airport land acquisition cost of$38,000/acre for safety zones A and B. This was option 2, approved by the MAC Commission. Buying zones A and B and acquiring easements over the developed areas adjacent to these parcels was discussed, and the costs which were estimated at $13,000 per acre by MAC in 1992 are now at $38,000 per acre in 1996. Kipp commented that the City was in opposition to the expansion but in the event that the expansion goes forward, the City is concerned that the residents get fair market value for their property according to the Guide Plan density. Schmidt inquired how lost revenue was calculated and Kipp responded that valuation was based on the premise that the land was developed with houses at 1.8 units per acre, and valued at $200,000 per home. Discussion ensued regarding the estimated valuation of the revenue loss from potential development on an annual basis from the proposed land acquisition property. The Commission believed both best and worst case scenarios needed to be considered and the reality issue probably fell somewhere in between. The land is topographically unique and development can occur in a number of different ways. Schmidt commented that what land is actually acquired will depend on how the parcels are divided. The Governor has requested MAC to drop the plan s for a new International airport, which will put a lot of pressure on MAC and the Airport Commission. B. Desiizn Framework Manual for Flying Cloud Airport Kipp handed out an outline for a Design Framework Manual for the airport, and explained the need for such a manual for hangar and building construction. It would give continuity to such things as hangar design, signage, lighting, colors on buildings, landscaping, etc. The City does not require strict code enforcement because the airport is owned by MAC, but the Manual would give some continuity in the case of upgrades and new construction. It would not apply to those buildings already in place. If the airport expands, the City believes that it would be important to have some uniformity on the site. The Uniform Building Code (UBC) standards have to be met, but such things as face brick and other City code requirements may be hard to enforce on MAC owned property. Staff believed that design standards would be good and would create a more attractive airport. Kipp stated that a first draft of the Manual would be available for the next meeting. Schmidt commented that MAC requires builders to obtain a permit from the local governmental authority and to meet the existing codes. Kipp responded that governmental agencies do not have to meet local zoning codes. Discussion ensued regarding the difficulties in enforcing requirements if these are set forth in the manual. The problem of requiring people to meet the code or standards was discussed. Kipp commented that the Manual could require all metal construction to have a uniform color scheme. This would not create any additional hardship to the business owners. The intent is to address what would be acceptable when a hangar is rebuilt or expanded. The Manual will also address the signage issue to get rid of painted plywood signs which detract from the appearance of the airport. It will have to be done within reason and the Commission felt that this would be a good project for it to undertake. Kipp stated he would like to see MAC become a working partner in the development of the manual and seeing that its contents are enforced. Any adopted Design Framework Manual would be a policy of the City Council. All construction has to meet State Building Codes in any case. The Commission did not want to go through the steps of developing the manual if it would not be enforceable. Kipp briefly reviewed the types of issues that would be included in the manual and the process that would be done each meeting until it was completed; he suggested the end of 1996 as a deadline. MOTION: Nitchman moved, Keller seconded, to go forward with the manual as recommended by staff. Motion carried unanimously. IV. NOISE ABATEMENT PLAN/AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS A. Noise Complaints for November and December, 1995 Foggia stated that they had held a meeting with tower personnel in November to try to get a message regarding the noise abatement program on the ATIS recording, but it was not going to happen here at this time. They had discussions with personnel regarding this and while the idea was initially agreeable to the tower personnel, it was not acceptable to the tower manager and it was decided not to do it at this time. Foggia stated that there were two meetings held in January with tower personnel on noise abatement and that they all have to agree on the concept, or it will not be very successful. He said the noise abatement signs have been purchased and are ready to be installed in February, which will promote the noise abatement program at Flying Cloud Airport. Nitchman commented that they got all the things they wanted except the message on ATIS but the understood that the message would not change behavior. Fuhrman discussed the noise complaints from November and December, stating they received several complaints from people who regularly call in. There were no complaints received in December, and they had double-checked to ensure that the line was working. B. Noise Abatement Signage Implementation Schedule Fuhrman stated that six signs are runway specific and there will be ten generic signs which will be placed around the perimeter of the airport. These will be noticed by people who use the airport regularly as well as people who just fly in and out on an occasional basis. There will be four generic signs along the runways so there is some exposure all over. The signs will be 2' X 4' and they will be metal with reflective lettering, and professionally done. He passed around samples of what the signs would look like. The signs will be installed in the next two weeks. Kilpatrick inquired about doing a press release, and after discussion, the Commission felt that staff should brief the City Council on what was going on, and thus the Eden Prairie News would contact MAC about the signage, and the news would be released that way. Barker was concerned that there be no confusion between the noise abatement issue and the airport expansion issue. Kipp commented he would submit a memo to the City Council detailing the signage project which would undoubtedly generate a news story. If the airport does not expand the noise abatement issue is still viable and valid. V. OTHER BUSINESS A. New Recommendations for Boards and Commissions Kipp outlined the recommendations made to the City Council for changes to the process of appointing people to serve on the various boards and commissions, and for better communication with the various boards and commissions. The process has been revised to include a monthly report to the City Council to appraise them of what the boards and commissions are doing. There will also be a place created on the agenda which will allow board and commission members to directly approach the City Council for direction on specific issues or to make reports to the Council regarding information the Council has requested. This will allow direct feedback from the Council. B. Interview Process for Prospective Commission Members Kipp stated he had attended the open house for boards and commissions and there were approximately 70 people there who were interested in serving. The interviews were scheduled for February 8th in Heritage Room IV, and the appointments will be made at the second City Council meeting in February. C. General Discussion Items Kilpatrick requested staff to place an item on the agenda for the next meeting to put something together to keep the momentum going on the implementation of the noise abatement program so that on a bi-annual or quarterly basis, the commission can do an evaluation to ensure they are continuing to move forward. Discussion ensued regarding Mrs. Vicky Lewis, a City of Shoreview resident who has been concerned about aircraft flying directly over her house during early morning hours. MAC cannot identify the aircraft and they have suggested that they will come out to the house in June when they have a noise monitoring intern on staff to record noise levels and try to make an identification. Once that has been done, they will contact those people and suggest that they modify their flight pattern. FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION February 7, 1996 Page 2 VI. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Nitchman moved, seconded by Keller, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.