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Mesquite, Nevada wants new Airport. Will get it with land to sell to others.

By
Home Inspector with CEREIS Edifice Inspection Specialists

The plans call for a 7,500-foot runway, along with taxiways and connectors, as part of a 2,560-acre parcel of land to be released to the City of Mesquite near I-15’s mile marker 108. While the distant location would create some transportation problems for those who fly in and need to reach the city, the FAA indicated that there are significant advantages to the location, particularly in the arena of Detectable Noise Levels (DNL). According to the Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the FAA, the proposed project would not “cause a significant noise impact based on FAA’s Land Use Compatibility Guidelines,” and in fact “no residences or other noise-sensitive resources would experience an increase of DNL 3.0 or greater.” The study indicates that the city’s current airport has “inadequate runway takeoff lengths,” leading to “aircraft operating restrictions.” It also confirms that “the existing airport is physically constrained by its location,” leading to “limited on-airport development.” The Mesquite Municipal Airport is currently located atop Kitty Hawk Drive, locked in between the world-famous Wolf Creek Golf Course, a collection of upscale residential developments, and the Arizona state line. Because of it’s location, the runway couldn’t be extended to the 7,500-foot level. Also, there is no room to build additional structures or hangars on the property, according to proponents of the move. However, local pilot Douglas Guiver disputes that position. “There is presently a 160-foot by 150-foot lot being used for skydiving that could be turned into hangar space,” Guiver said during his verbal presentation at the hearing. Guiver, who keeps a plane at the airport and lives nearby, explained that he is at the airport five to seven days a week, and disputes the FAA’s estimates that the airport experienced more than 16,000 operations in 2006. “On a busy day, there are only five to seven planes that takeoff and land there,” Guiver said. He also pointed out that “the Overton Airport is only eight nautical miles away, and on a busy day, they only see three or four planes.” Like several owners who keep their aircraft at the Mesquite Airport, Guiver is concerned about the distance to the new airport and the security. “We will have an airport that has no security, no transportation to get to it. This will be 15 miles out of town. It won’t work well with people leaving their planes out there, whether it’s a $100,000 plane or a five-million dollar jet, without any security or transportation.” Guiver pointed out that he also owns a house in a small town in Colorado, and claims that it’s a great location because the airport is conveniently located in the middle of town. He also wanted local citizens to know that the FAA won’t be paying for the new airport, and that it will be an expensive proposition. “We’re talking about spending millions of dollars to move the airport, and the FAA is not paying for construction.” George Michnick, who is a founding member of the local Defend Our Desert group, expressed concerns about the impact on desert tortoises in the area of the proposed airport. “There are quite a number of desert tortoises out that way,” he said. He was also curious about how many jets currently use the Mesquite airport, and the proximity of the city to the new airport. “Being 15 miles away, it won’t attract many business jets because of the transportation and security reasons,” Michnick said. He also pointed out that, with the price of gas today, the FAA needed to assess the costs and fuel impacts for ground travel back and forth from Mesquite to the new location. However, he was supportive of the possibility for passenger service at the new airport. “It would be nice to see some light commercial traffic for folks who would like to travel to other cities without having to travel to Las Vegas or St. George.” Jack Lewis, the only other person to speak during the hearing, lauded the FAA for the study. “You did an excellent job of assembling a whole lot of data,” Lewis said. “It looks like a good project.” Following the third and final speaker, and with no other individuals signing up to speak, FAA official and moderator Barry Franklin offered a 15-minute recess. After resuming, no one else volunteered to speak, and the hearing was adjourned an astounding 45 minutes after it began. The FAA will continue to accept written comments about the project until July 18. After that, a consultant will prepare the final EIS which will be circulated by the FAA, then a final decision will be rendered. According to the FAA document, the proposed airport is tentatively set to open in 2014.

more infomation click on this link http://www.mesquitenv.com/SpotlightArticle/DraftExtension

Comments (1)

Jeremy K. Frost
Keller Williams Realty - Dripping Springs, TX
Associate Broker, ABR,CNE,CRS,ePro,PSA,RENE,SRS

interesting post

Jun 29, 2008 11:35 AM