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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 12/04/1996 APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION DECEMBER 4, 1996 7:00 P.M. City Center Prairie Rooms A& B 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie COMMISSION MEMBERS: Carlo Amato, Kent Barker, Tom Heffelfinger, Rob Kilpatrick, Alan Nitchman, Gary Schmidt VISITORS: Blake Middleton, Planes of Fame Museum Chad Leqve, MAC STAFF: Scott A. Kipp, Senior Planner CALL TO ORDER Acting Chairman Kilpatrick called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. Commissioner Marge Bundgaard was absent. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was amended by Kipp, adding a noise complaint item under section V. Noise Abatement Plan. The agenda was unanimously approved as amended. II. ELECTION OF OFFICERS This item was unanimously approved to be deferred until the next meeting. III. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 4, 1996 MINUTES The minutes were unanimously approved as submitted. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. MAC EIS Advisory Committee Member Appointment Schmidt said the FAA has approved MAC's Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the preparation of the joint Federal/State Environmental Impact Statement. This MOU is required with the FAA since the environmental document will be prepared by MAC but cover both federal and state requirements. Schmidt stated the EIS Advisory Committee being formed by the MAC will most likely have its first meeting in January 1997. The members of the Committee will represent the FAA, MnDOT, City of Eden Prairie, Met Council, EQB, Flying Cloud Business Association, Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission, and Zero Expansion at Flying Cloud. The results of the Advisory Committee work will go before the MAC Commission with recommendations before the Scoping Document goes forward. Nitchman indicated the Ordinance 51 task force of the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission agreed that the best way to approach the issues related to proposed changes to Ordinance 51 would be to wrap the task force into the pre- scoping process. Therefore, the task force had decided to make the issue part of the EIS Advisory Committee work as well. Nitchman thought that Tom Heffelfinger should be the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission representative since he is part of the task force. Barker was concerned that having only one resident representative appears as an inclusive process, but would not fairly take into account the issues of that representative. Nitchman said the EIS Committee would be inclusive since voices from Zero Expansion, the City, and a resident representative from the Flying Cloud Advisory Commission would make it a balanced committee. He added that the committee could actually be viewed as biased against the residents who are in favor of the expansion proposal. Heffelfinger said the committee process will be better than if no committee were formed. Barker said he is not concerned with Heffelfinger as a representative, but was concerned with the "window dressing" approach to acknowledge inclusion in the process. Heffelfinger said he is aware of the issues with the past expansion process and does not intend on letting the committee work become"window dressing". Barker asked what expertise Heffelfinger has to avoid a foregone conclusion with this committee process. Heffelfinger said if the members of the committee raise issues of inadequate coverage, the group will make sure the issues are discussed thoroughly. The Commission unanimously approved the appointment of Heffelfinger as the Flying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission representative to the EIS Advisory Committee. B. Environmental Impact Statement Process Schmidt said the EIS process will last approximately 12 to 18 months. Amato asked who would make sure that no consultant profits from the outcome of the EIS as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding. Schmidt said the FAA. Barker said he submitted issues for the record during the previous scoping process,but that his letter never showed up as part of the record or were any of his issues addressed. He wanted to know how we protect this from happening again. Heffelfinger said all the committee members have a vested interest in the issues and will make every effort to be complete and inclusive. C. Land Development Proposal On West Side Of Airport Kipp advised the commission of the submittal of a land development proposal for the Lynn Charlson property which abuts the airport to the west. He said the proposal is for a Guide Plan Change to the proposed land uses. The project was determined by staff to be incomplete based on the need for traffic and environmental study and has not been scheduled for any public hearings. Nitchman said if the Charlson proposal were planned to work with the airport expansion it could be more beneficial for land values with commercial land uses as a buffer to the airport. Kipp said the developer decided he was not going to wait any longer for MAC to acquire property, and wants to proceed with development with the land. Kipp added that if MAC wants to acquire property as the MAC Commission recommends, the developer is willing to discuss it. Kipp said he will keep the commission updated on this issue. V. NOISE ABATEMENT PLAN/AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS A. Noise Complaints for August through October, 1996 Leqve handed out the reports for noise complaints received at MAC for those months, which identified a total of 21 complaints. Nitchman felt it important to include the location of the complaints with the summaries. He said this would help determine the legitimacy of some of the complaints. Leqve said he would include the grid cell information to aid in locating the complaint. Heffelfinger said the low flying complaints need to be addressed through education as in the pilot/controller seminars, and other means. This is a safety issue that should not be ignored. B. Shorewood Resident Noise Complaint Kipp said he has received another complaint from the Lewis' regarding an airplane consistently flying over their home near Christmas Lake around 6 am every day. Kipp added that the Lewis' were thankful of MAC staff for conducting the aircraft noise monitoring, but are still looking for some results regarding this repetitive condition. Leqve said when his staff conducted the noise monitoring, the ambient noise level was higher than that of any aircraft being monitored. Therefore, there was no noise problem according to MAC. Leqve said he would contact the Lewis' again to discuss the issue. The Commission felt MAC and others have done everything they can do help define the problem, and at this point said there is no violations taking place. VI. OTHER BUSINESS A. Design Framework Manual for Flying Cloud Airport Kipp updated the Commission the recent City Council approval of the Design Framework Manual. He wanted to know if MAC has taken any action on the Manual as requested during previous meetings. Schmidt said no. He said it will need to go to the MAC Commission. Kilpatrick asked if MAC supports the Manual. Schmidt said that the items in the Manual are to help address aesthetic aspects of the airport, specifically the old metal hangar areas, adding that he sees no real problem associated with the Manual. Kipp said the MAC staff has indicated support in the past with issues regarding the City's zoning code. Nitchman said he saw no problem with the Manual, but felt the airport businesses should be aware of it. Kipp said this should be done through the Flying Cloud Business Association. MOTION: Heffelfinger moved, seconded by Barker, that the MAC take appropriate action to approve the Design Framework Manual for Flying Cloud Airport as soon as possible. Motion carried unanimously. Kilpatrick asked if Kipp has heard from Marge Bungaard lately, since she has not attended many of the Advisory Commission meetings. Kipp said he has not heard from her. He said he will write her a letter on behalf of the Commission to see if her schedule limits her ability to attend, or if she is not interested in participating. Nitchman said he would be willing to find another airport business representative if Bungaard does not want to remain on the Commission. Nitchman explained about the upcoming MATA meeting to be held between January 31 and February 4, 1997 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Bloomington. Many workshop sessions will be taking place that address community issues, including discussion with representatives from other airports on noise abatement programs. He said this meeting will be very interesting, and will provide a wealth of information which will help to address Flying Cloud issues. He said he would make sure everyone on the Commission is invited to this meeting. VII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business of the Commission, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 8:40 p.m. g:\barb\s,ott\niin 12-0."d