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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlying Cloud Airport Advisory Commission - 11/05/1997 APPROVED MINUTES FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1997 7:00 P.M. City Center Prairie Rooms A& B 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie COMMISSION MEMBERS: Jeff Bauer, Tom Heffelfinger, Rob Kilpatrick, Jeff Larsen, Alan Nitchman, Gary Schmidt, John Smith VISITORS: Blake Middleton, Planes of Fame Air Museum and Chad Leqve, MAC STAFF: Scott A. Kipp, Senior Planner, and Barbara Anderson, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Nitchman called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Commissioners Heffelfinger and Schmidt were absent. I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion: Kilpatrick moved, seconded by Larsen to approve the agenda as submitted. Motion carried 5-0. II. SWEARING IN OF JEFF BAUER AND JOHN SMITH AS NEW COMMISSIONERS Jeff Bauer and John Smith read the swearing in statement, which was witnessed by Commissioners Nitchman and Kilpatrick. Each new commissioner gave a brief background history. Nitchman welcomed them to the Commission. III. APPROVAL OF AUGUST 6, 1997 MINUTES MOTION: Kilpatrick moved, seconded by Larsen, to approve the August 6, 1997 Minutes as submitted. Motion carried 5-0. IV. DISCUSSION ITEMS A. DRAFT SCOPING DECISION AND EAW FOR FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT - Gary Schmidt Kipp stated he and Nitchman were both on MAC's EIS Advisory Committee when the document was being put together and since the draft was put together MAC has begun the EAW process, and is working on the EIS. There will be a meeting on December 4, 1997, at Pax Christi to obtain public comment on the document to be sure that it covers all the necessary information. There will be an article in the Eden Prairie Newsletter letting residents know that the process is FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES November 5, 1997 Page 1 about to begin. If any Commissioners want to be there it would be appropriate. Kilpatrick commented his position has always been to see what concessions they could get from MAC regarding existing facilities that are used by the Commission at the airport. Kipp stated they will be talking about legal issues that will stem from the expansion of the airport and the effects that it will have on the community. Zones A and B will be part of these discussions and the impacts of doing the expansion. Discussion ensued regarding the areas that have been purchased and what is yet to be acquired. With the MUSA line expansion these are issues that need to be dealt with as development will be commencing in these areas. Nitchman said safety zones A& B, and the future hangar area were discussed during the City's MUSA expansion, and that Met Council would not approve the 280 acres which MAC showed as their acquisition area, because the airport was going to be expanded and the land would be purchased by MAC. Kipp said the Met Council approved all but 30 acres as part of the MUSA expansion only because it was shown as low-density residential in the areas MAC was proposing to acquire. This means the City can begin planning for sewer and water and development can begin. MAC has held a public hearing on the acquisition of 100 acres between Spring Road and Eden Prairie Road. Kipp said the Charlson Guide Plan change has not gone to either the Planning Commission or the City Council yet, but it is in the process and will put some pressure on MAC to purchase this area. Discussion ensued regarding the costs of installing sewer and water and how they will be recovered. Nitchman felt that the purpose of the public hearing process was to let the public know what was going on and the real issues that were being dealt with so it did not become an emotional forum for everyone. Kipp noted that some things have changed from the Long-Term Comprehensive Plan. Nitchman commented that as the Airport Advisory Commission they should be showing both sides of this issue to illustrate the economic impacts of this on the Community. Kipp agreed and said any available information should be provided to the City Council to be kept informed. Nitchman commented they should try to identify some issues with the scoping document in case another meeting is called next month. Nitchman said the airport is an economic benefit and an asset to the Community. Kipp commented the Charlson Guide Plan Amendment shows a realignment of County Road 4 to separate the hangar area from the rest of the site which would allow for a clear separation of the uses in the area. Nitchman encouraged everyone to read the scoping document to get a good idea of what is coming up with this issue. Nitchman stated they need to advise the City as to how they can still meet the intent of Ordinance 51 with a noise abatement program which is effective and can stay away from the weight restrictions. The airport is being designed to handle aircraft up to a certain size and nothing beyond that limit. 20,000 or 30,000 pounds are the weight limits being discussed. Kipp noted the existing runway is constructed to 30,000 pounds and the new FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES November 5, 1997 Page 1 runway will be also. Heffelfinger wanted to be able to look at a particular type of aircraft and know that it was in violation of the weight limit restrictions if it was parked at the airport. Nitchman commented this was an issue they should work on as the Airport Advisory Commission. The issue of noise levels versus weight was discussed. Leqve commented that a weight limit was not a means of abating noise and people need to be educated about this. MOTION: Kilpatrick moved, seconded by Larsen, to have Heffelfinger and Nitchman re-establish work as the Ordinance 51 task force to develop a concept of an alternative to Ordinance 51 which would be brought back to the Airport Advisory Commission for discussion. Motion carried 5-0. Nitchman commented that transportation was a part of the overall plan for the City of Eden Prairie and the airport was one facet of this plan. Kipp stated he would call Heffelfinger and see if he wanted to have another meeting next month. B. DESIGN FRAMEWORK MANUAL - COMMENTS FROM MAC - Roy Fuhrmann This item was continued because Roy Fuhrmann has moved into another position with MAC and the person replacing him was unable to be present at the meeting. C. LATE NIGHT MAINTENANCE RUN UP COMPLAINTS - Chad Legve Leqve stated that Gary Schmidt spoke with people from Elliott Aviation and Aviation Charter regarding the late night run-ups and he sent copies of the Noise Abatement Program to them. Since then, the number of complaints has decreased greatly. Kipp asked to have some response from Aviation Charter acknowledging they have received this information and will comply. MAC could take a stronger stand and hold lease agreements over their heads if necessary to enforce compliance. Nitchman requested that Gary Schmidt write a letter outlining the action taken and the response to that action. Leqve stated he would convey that request to Gary Schmidt. D. TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DISCUSSION -Alan Nitchman Nitchman stated this item had already been discussed under the first agenda item. V. NOISE ABATEMENT PLAN/AIRCRAFT INCIDENTS Noise Complaints for April through June, 1997 - Chad Legve Leqve discussed the complaints received from July through September, 1997, which were delineated in his written report. Larsen asked how people can obtain the phone number to complain about noise at the airport because he looked in several places and did not find it. He asked if residents FLYING CLOUD AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMISSION MINUTES November 5, 1997 Page 1 would call City Hall the City would tell them where to call, and Kipp responded affirmatively, noting those calls were usually forwarded to him. Kilpatrick commented he was concerned about the spike in complaints and wanted to see what happens in the next couple of months. He asked if someone calls in late at night if they get a person or an answering machine, and Leqve responded they usually have someone on at night, but he is an older gentleman who has had a lot of health problems recently, so they may get the machine instead. Kilpatrick stated he would like to see a system in place which would allow for some differentiation in the menu to get more input regarding the type of noise causing the disturbance and what is actually occurring at that time. VII. OTHER BUSINESS Diversity Training Survey - Scott Kipp The Commission discussed the issue of diversity and they concluded that respect for other peoples opinions was the most important issue. Also, they should allow all the facts on both sides of an issue to come forth. Also, understanding the total scope of transportation in the Commission is important so they can understand how the airport expansion would impact these systems. Diversity training is done through their business as well as City training. They concluded they have a moderate level of training. VIII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Kilpatrick moved, seconded by Larsen, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. O:\BARB\SCOTT\AIRPORT\MfNUTES\I I-05-97.