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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN,
REZONING AND RUNWAY EXTENSION
Taken from the Public Information
Meetings*
*This document is a work in progress. As the official record
becomes available more questions and answers will be added.
Question
1-
Can we expect any kind of return on our money with
only a few international charters coming in to
PIE?
Pinellas County was required by the FAA to perform
a Benefit Cost Analysis following Federal guidelines
established by the Federal Department of Transportation.
The Benefit Cost Analysis clearly confirmed that the
benefits of extending the runway exceed the costs by
a factor of 4:1 up to 10:1. This allows Federal participation
and therefore the Benefit Cost Analysis was approved
by the FAA.
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Question
2-
Please do not destroy the greenspace around the airport
and specifically the greenspace between the airport
and Feather Sound. I cannot believe that the environmental
survey summarized “no significant impact”. Additional
noise, additional airline/helicopter emissions, and
the reduction of greenspace WILL have a negative impact
on the environment waterways and trees and wildlife.
It is not practical or logical to think otherwise.
The birds are beautiful and will not exist well, if
at all, without the trees. Why do we need to grow the
airport? The benefits are potential—not tangible. We
do not need more office buildings in our County. Use
MacDill for any military
The Airport is an enterprise department within Pinellas
County Government and is run as a business. Also, the
Federal Government requires the Airport to make an
operating profit to sustain growth within the National
Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
Pinellas County is a leader in Environmental land
preservation having set aside sensitive land as early
as the 1970’s. Our goal is to sustain to economic development
while nurturing our natural resources.
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Question
3-
This plan “stinks” why
are we “the public” looking to expand a secondary
airport? The St. Pete airport is voting to close
its airport. The only benefits to this expansion
are for cargo type carriers. Let corporate America
earn its profits somewhere else. Why are Pinellas
County residents expected to be burdened so corporate
America (U.P.S. etc.) can further prosper? Since
when did corporate America vote? Lose the plan.
98% of Pinellas County companies have fewer than 100
employees and 97 % of county companies who ship by
air have fewer than 100 employees, according to the
2002 Business Assistance Survey of 10,000 businesses.
The companies that ship their products by air are not
major corporations.
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Question
4-
Please post on the website: How many people will be
added to the ranks of Americans who are unemployed
if this airport is closed? This site would NOT make
a good mall, as someone suggested earlier.
The Airport and on-airport tenants are Pinellas County’s
8th largest employer. There are currently 1,648 people
employed at the airport, and there are at least 3,586
jobs at or near the airport that are directly related
to the Airport’s aviation facilities, their tenants,
and the passengers that arrive and depart the Airport.
We can assume Coast Guard personnel would be reassigned,
but the prospects for other employees are less certain.
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Question
5-
Please give specific answers to specific questions:
who are the airlines that provided the letters of intent,
when were the letters written. If the airport does
not increase revenue, does all of the shortfall go
to the taxpayers? How many signatures are needed for
this to become an item on a public ballot?
The Airlines that provided the letters of intent are
Southeast Airlines (November 28, 2001), Condor Airlines
(November 28, 2001), Martin Air (September 24, 2001),
and Travel City Direct (March 14, 2002). The Airport
will use money from its general fund to cover any revenue
shortfalls.
A petition containing signatures of 10% of the registered
electors countywide would be required to initiate a
ballot measure.
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Question
6-
If there are 24 flights a day that generate 1600
jobs, how does the lengthened runways double the number
of jobs (1735)? Does that double the number of flights
per day?
New international visitors associated with Airport
improvements will generate an additional 1,728 jobs
in 2005, rising to 2,889 in 2008. Capital spending
at the Airport including ongoing tenant investments
and the improvements incorporated in the Airport master
plan will generate another 568 jobs per year on average.
Source: Infrastructure Management Group – Economic
Impact Analysis
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Question
7-
What percentage of Carillon and Gateway are unused?
The mid-county overall vacancy rate is 7.5%. The office
vacancy rate for Pinellas is 10.9%, compared to 16.1%
for the Tampa Bay Area.
Source: Colliers-Arnold Market Report Q1, Q2 2003
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Question
8-
What about the berm idea? That sounds like an excellent
buffer that would allay many of the concerns regarding noise.
No analysis has been conducted to study the noise
reduction by building a berm. We will look into this
as a possibility of further reducing noise to the Feather
Sound community.
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Question
9-
Has any consideration been given to cost of defending
against or compensating property owners who make claims
for constructive condemnation as a result of diminution
of value of property? Is the Commission aware that
right now planes are apparently violating flight path
directives when they fly over Safety Harbor you cannot
hear? If traffic at the airport is only at 1995 levels,
what justifies expansion? Are you aware of the eagle’s
nest in south Safety Harbor and whether encroachment
by airplanes is an issue?
The FAA in conjunction with other Federal agencies,
established guidelines of 65 day/night level (DNL)
as the level at which noise is considered objectionable
for residential land uses. Therefore, these properties
are not considered harmed by the noise levels by FAA
criteria. We intend to increase monitoring and enforcement
of noise abatement procedures.
The Airport monitors and enforces existing Noise Abatement
Procedures to alleviate noise over Safety Harbor.
Pinellas County was required by the FAA to perform
a Benefit Cost Analysis following Federal guidelines
established by the Federal Department of Transportation.
The Benefit Cost Analysis clearly confirmed that the
benefits of extending the runway exceeding the costs
by a factor of 4:1 up to 10:1. This allows Federal
participation and therefore the Benefit Cost Analysis
was approved by the FAA.
Yes, we are aware of the eagle’s nest in South Safety
Harbor and Feather Sound. Encroachment by airplanes
is not an issue.
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Question
10-
Where does the airport director live? Does he know, personally,
how noise impacts the neighbors around the Airport. We understand
he lives where?
Yes, he is aware of the noise impacts and concerns of the
residents surrounding the Airport. The interim Airport Director
resides in Odessa, Florida
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Question
11-
The noise level is already too loud. When Coast Guard
planes take off from the North-South runway my windows
on the north and west side vibrate, even the glasses
in my kitchen rattle! I have requested Pinellas County
Environmental Management to measure the noise from
the airport but was refused by the office. How can
I get Environmental Management to measure airport noise
behind my home? And when? Is there a noise abatement
task force for the airport and does it have any enforcement
powers? Can time restrictions be implemented between
11pm and 7am and enforced!
Although aircraft are exempt from the County Noise
Ordinance, we will request the Director of Environmental
Management measure the noise in your community and
report back to the County Administrator.
There is a 22-member Aircraft Noise Abatement Task
Force appointed by the County Administrator. The Task
Force does not have enforcement powers. The Airport
does not have the authority to implement curfews. This
final authority resides with the FAA.
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Question
12-
There are many factors that influence people being
attracted to an area. Certainly money/economics is
a variable; however, I worry that being so densely
populated (most in state) that there is no longer a
value placed in the aesthetics of the area—parks, recreation
areas are scarce, particularly in mid-county. Why not
place some value in the beauty of our environment?
Money is not all there is to life!!! Flowers, grass,
trees, picnic tables, etc might help promote and nicer
people in the area. What are the Commissioners’ opinions
about environmental concerns other than economic impact?
Why would people want to spend time in a concrete county?
What about noise from Coast Guard choppers? Late evening
is common. Can they go to MacDill? Big NOISE Problem.
Can you spell green space? Does money make the world
go around? Should it!?
The Coast Guard does utilize MacDill for approximately
30% of their training exercises to help alleviate noise
to adjacent residential areas.
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Question
13-
Why wasn’t there a sign-in? Shouldn’t the commissioners
be aware of what how many folks in their districts
are concerned? Don’t they care? No one is arguing to
close the airport. It’s great that they have a current
economic impact. Does not justify or show need for
expansion or a taking to the residential neighbors.
Please control the noise---great that we can track
it, but doesn’t help our children get a good night
sleep. Provide answers to the business questions asked
by the people at the meeting. We elect you; we choose
you to represent us—how do you justify being rude and
dismissive publicly to your constituents? Seems like
our trust was misplaced. The letters of intent—who
provided them and was it before 911? Please provide
CURRENT letters of intent. Seems like 4 is not enough
to base the entire plan on and there is no backup plan.
We want the opportunity to vote on this issue. Please
provide your data regarding the noise to the PhD in
Engineering who spoke. Please publicly respond and
provide answers to the questions regarding flood plain
and other issues, such as traffic impact.
Pinellas County was required by the FAA to perform
a Benefit Cost Analysis following Federal guidelines
established by the Federal Department of Transportation.
The Benefit Cost Analysis clearly confirmed that the
benefits of extending the runway exceeding the costs
by a factor of 4:1 up to 10:1. This allows Federal
participation and therefore the Benefit Cost Analysis
was approved by the FAA.
The Airlines that provided the letters of intent are
Southeast Airlines (November 28, 2001), Condor Airlines
(November 28, 2001), Martin Air (September 24, 2001),
and Travel City Direct (March 14, 2002). The Airport
will use money from its general fund to cover any revenue
shortfalls.
The Engineer was provided with answers from the Airport’s
consultant at the conclusion of the presentation.
Properties, which lie in flood zones, are not precluded
from development. The designation of the flood zone
indicates that waters may “rise” on a site and requires
buildings’ lowest floors to be elevated above the base
flood level. Many of the developed properties in the
vicinity of the airport lie in flood zones.
Increased
development will result in increased traffic. While
we are not sure what the writer was refereeing
to as the “49th Street & 275 interchange” , we
do know that a connection between Roosevelt Boulevard/Ulmerton
Road corridor south to 118th Avenue and on to I275,
is planned. The project is in design and the County
is seeking ways to accelerate this project through
gas tax funds. While the State Department of Transportation
has projected this project be constructed in the year
2012, improvements at the Airport which generate additional
traffic will be regulated by “concurrency management”,
which require transportation facilities to be available
or to come on line within 3 years of the physical development.
Transportation facilities must be available to accommodate
new development.
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Question
14-
How can Board of County Commissioners approve IPD zoning
change until drainage and roadways are approved as
required by the IPD zoning definition? Where will the
cars for the projected visitors be parked? You have
not described this. What is the penalty paid by violators
of the noise abatement rules? How do you incorporate
our comments into Master Plan prior to FDOT and FAA
review?
Rezoning does not require detailed roadway and drainage
plans among others things a rezoning review considers
whether the types and bulk of land uses being proposed
are appropriate for the property in question and whether
the infrastructure (road, drainage) is or can reasonably
be made to accommodate the proposed development. Detailed
plans for drainage and road improvements are reviewed
later as a part of Site Plan Review prior to any physical
development being placed on the ground. We will be
showing a conceptual runway and drainage layout during
the rezoning process when it occurs.
The Airport is currently expanding its parking facility
by 650 additional stalls to accommodate increased demand.
There are not financial penalties for noise abatement
violations.
These questions and comments will be incorporated
into the Master Plan prior to FDOT and FAA review.
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Question
15-
Who is responsible for enforcing noise abatement levels
currently in place and those proposed? What is the
enforcement mechanism to catch noise abatement violators?
Since the airport property is enterprise property,
what other enterprise choices have you looked as a
part of the master development plan? Specify the minimum
buffer west of F,I,J,K & L the county can approve?
In addition to distance, what physical noise barriers
will be erected? What is being done by the Pinellas
Economic Development to maximize with other municipalities
economic development in all of Pinellas County, such
as the south side of St. Petersburg?
The Airport is responsible for enforcing and monitoring
noise abatement procedures. Currently Airport staff
visually monitor airlines arrivals and departures to
ensure compliance. We anticipate having a flight tracking
system installed within 30 days to assist with ensuring
compliance.
Other enterprise choices include corporate hangar
development, private T-hangar development, cargo facilities,
and terminal parking enhancements and future commercial
development on the property opposite the terminal on
Roosevelt Boulevard.
The Master Plan has not considered erecting noise
barriers.
Pinellas
County Economic Development works closely with county
municipalities. We jointly fund the Business
Assistance Partnership with eight cities and nine chambers
of commerce for business retention and business assistance.
Approximately 1,500 businesses will be visited this
year to ascertain their business needs and how we can
best assist them. We share relocation leads with our
city partners to ensure uniform response, and we host
a quarterly Economic Development practitioners meeting
to discuss joint concerns and coordinate efforts. Pinellas
County Economic Development featured the Dome Industrial
property on its web site www.siliconbay.org.
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Question
16-
Please provide names and expected revenues by year
of the carriers expected to use the extended runway?
What air pollution control measures will be implemented
after the runway extension is built? What I mean by
control measures is shutting down aircraft and towing
the aircraft to the airside after completing their
taxi run.
The Airlines are Southeast Airlines, Condor Airlines,
Martin Air, and Travel City Direct.
The environmental assessment did not find an unacceptable
level of air pollution. The Department of Environmental
Management does conduct regular monitoring of air quality
in Pinellas County.
The Airport is working with the FAA to pursue Global
Positioning System and Flight Management System Technology
to extend the hours of operation for the North Bay
Visual Approach Procedure.
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Question
17-
When will the Master Plan be available to the public
for review prior to its approval by the BOCC? Current
noise abatement includes limiting early hours in negotiating
new contracts—was the economic analysis performed with
a limit on hours? Will the policy to limit hours change
after the plan has been approved? John Morroni has
stated that the Airco Development is “not a done deal”.
If this is so, then why would the BOCC not renew Airco’s
lease on the golf course property?
It should be available on the web at www.fly2pie.com and
at your local library on Monday September 22, 2003.
The previous lease holder did not choose to renew their
lease.
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Question
18-
Airport officials say that the airport contributes
$784 million to Pinellas County. How much of this money
would not be contributed to Pinellas County if travelers
were forced to land at Tampa International?
We cannot quantify how much money would be lost if
passengers were forced to land at Tampa International
Airport. However, we do know not all TIA passengers
visit our county. Tampa International conducted a passenger
survey in December 2000 that showed that 42% of its
passengers either visit or are from Pinellas County.
We cannot assume all TIA passengers visit Pinellas;
over half (58%) of TIA passengers do not visit our
county.
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Question
19-
The runway expansion is estimated to cost $17.5 million.
I assume most of it is being paid by the taxpayers.
The overall master plan for the airport calls for investing
nearly ¼ billion dollars. How much of this is
taxpayer money and couldn’t this money be better spent
than bailing out a losing business that can’t compete
with the excellence of Tampa International?
The Airport is an enterprise department within Pinellas
County and is run as a business. Also, the Federal
Government requires the Airport to make an operating
profit to sustain growth within the National Plan of
Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS). No county taxes
are used to subsidize the operation of the Airport.
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Question
20-
What tourist would not travel to Clearwater if forced
to land at Tampa International? My point is: Local
tourism would not suffer because of the inability to
fly into Clearwater.
Our runway expansion will accommodate international
charters, and it is expected that international tourism
will increase as a result of the runway expansion.
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Question
21-
The only business that would benefit from an expansion
of St. Pete/Clearwater Airport are the businesses in
close proximity to the airport, the businesses that
reside inside the airport and the airport itself.
Pinellas County Economic Development found that 72%
of companies who export their products ship them by
air. According to our 2002 Business Assistance Survey
of 10,000 businesses. Also, the expansion is expected
to greatly increase our tourism industry, and tourists
typically spend their dollars throughout the county.
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Question
22-
What will be the increase in noise comparing a 727
and L10-11, a 777 and a 747?
The Environmental Assessment included larger aircraft
such as an L1011 and B747 when compiling data to calculate
noise contours. The results did not indicate a significant
change nor did it identify future incompatible land
use.
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Question
23-
How can it make economic sense to develop another airport
9 miles from the “World’s Finest” Tampa International?
They have the runway lengths, the cargo capacity and
all the services PIE wants to duplicate. Are tourists
any more likely to vacation at Pinellas beaches if
they land 9 miles closer to the beaches? Does it warrant
spending A QUARTER BILLION FEDERAL DOLLARS?
St.
Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is a
developed airport 9 miles from Tampa International
Airport. The St. Petersburg-Clearwater International
Airport does not wish to duplicate Tampa’s services,
and the estimated cost to lengthen the runway is $17.5
million.
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Question
24-
What studies have been done to determine how many passengers
who land at PIE are attracted to the cheap fares here
but rent a car and head to Orlando anyway?
There was no study conducted to determine how many
passengers are attracted by fares and rent a car to
drive to Orlando. The Benefit Cost Analysis only studied
potential visitors arriving at Orlando and driving
to Pinellas beaches.
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Question
25-
What is the demand for office space or another industrial
park in this area of Pinellas, where after 16 years,
even Carillon is not fully developed? According to
the July Maddox Report, the Gateway and mid-Pinellas
has more than 294,091 square feet of VACANT OFFICE
SPACE available PLUS another 85,000 in planned construction
space available at 700 Carillon. With this glut of
open, vacant office space today, how can building more
of it on an open green space be sound thinking?
Airco property is the last 150-acre site for a Class
A Business Park to meet future high wage jobs for Pinellas
County. We absorb anywhere from a million and a half
up to 3 million square feet annually.
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Question
26-
According to published reports and comments made by
Commissioner Latvala, the runway extension to 10,000
feet is expected to bring in only 1 or 2 additional
flights from overseas per day? How can the costs of
the extension and the loss of our last remaining open
space in this part of the community, possibly be justified
when those flights could easily operate at TIA?
Pinellas County was required by the FAA to perform
a Benefit Cost Analysis following Federal guidelines
established by the Federal Department of Transportation.
The Benefit Cost Analysis clearly confirmed that the
benefits of extending the runway exceeding the costs
by a factor of 4:1 up to 10:1. This allows Federal
participation and therefore the Benefit Cost Analysis
was approved by the FAA.
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Question
27-
If the county wants to generate more airport revenue,
why not charge usage fees to General Aviation aircraft
as it charges commercial and military aircraft? According
to the airport website, there are NO landing fees charged
to private aircraft.
There are very few public use airports within Florida
that charge landing fees for general aviation. The
Airport acquires revenue from General Aviation, Military
and Commercial through fuel flowage fees.
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Question
28-
Pinellas is already the most densely populated county
in Florida. According to Commissioner Stewart at the
8/19 Commissioner’s meeting, Pinellas I 97% built out—yet
he continues to push for the development. At what point
do we say enough growth, let’s focus on preserving
our county’s “scenic beauty” and on enhancing the quality
of life for those who live here? It’s a sad statement
when a golf course is one of the last remaining open
spaces in a community.
The
County is committed to preserving open space and
environmental lands. Since the mid-1970’s, the Board
of County Commissioners and voters have approved funding
sources to purchase hundreds of acres have been acquired
for environmental preservation, retention of open space,
and parklands. The County Comprehensive Plan requires
that 9 acres of parkland be provided for each 1,000
residents, and the county exceeds this standard.
The parcel of land, known as Airco, was acquired by
the Federal Government for future development to help
financially support the Airport.
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Question
29-
If PIE receives FAA funding for the runway extension
and/or the airport expansion, is the airport committed
to remaining open and operational 24 hours a day, 7
days a week? Then if PIE should lose many of its operations/airlines,
would the County be required to keep the airport open
regardless, such as the Naples airport has had to do?
The Airport has annually received FAA Grants and is
obligated to operate 24 hours per day and yes.
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Question
30-
How much local and federal money do you keep spending
before you make a decision to as to whether or not
a project is profitable?
The Airport has spent approximately $1 million on
the Benefit Cost Analysis and the Environmental Assessment
required by the FAA to justify the runway extension.
The Benefit Cost Analysis determined the project is
profitable.
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Question
31-
Why is it that the county needed to buy the Neighborly
Senior Services offices for this expansion, then proceeded
to sell them the property on the east side of the Airco
Golf Course on Evergreen Ave., even though Neighborly
Senior Services had already signed a lease at their
28th Street property?
The FAA Airway Facilities identified the Neighborly
Senior Services as an obstruction for the installation
of the new Category I Instrument Landing System. This
includes a new radio localizer and approach lighting
system.
The county did not own nor did it sell the property
to the east side of Airco to Neighborly Senior Services.
This was owned by Moog. The county did purchase the
remainder of the Moog property, excluding their existing
facility. This was done so green space and cultural
amenities can be retained in public ownership.
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Question
32-
Please explain the correlation between the county’s
Director of Real Estate, Bob Humberstone and the properties
purchased by the county for this expansion.
Mr. Humberstone's duties are to manage the leasehold
properties of the Airport and assure FAA guildelines
are followed. The county has not purchased any property
from Mr. Humberstone. He served as trustee to a family-related
trust that owns a property that may be a future land
acquisition of the county for additional runway safety
area. At no time, will Mr. Humberstone have any involvement
with the acquisition of the property should the Airport
need to acquire it.
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Question
33-
According to the Environmental Assessment, the airport
and surrounding land including Airco is in a flood
zone and is susceptible to tidal and storm surges.
Why would the county build new commercial buildings
in a flood zone? Who will pay for the construction
of the buildings? Will they need to be elevated due
to being in the flood zone?
Properties, which lie in flood zones, are not precluded
from development. The designation of the flood zone
indicates that waters may “rise” on a site and requires
buildings’ lowest floors to be elevated above the base
flood level. Many of the developed properties in the
vicinity of the airport lie in flood zones.
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Question
34-
The ICOT center is used by the county as an example
of proposed properties that could be built on the Airco
site. Does the IPD zoning—as proposed for Airco and
the former Moog property—allow commercial establishments
such as Stormans and Tuscons? If so, can we expect
new nightlife noises in addition to aircraft noise?
Does this mean more bars and noise on the waterfront?
The IPD zoning does allow some commercial development
(up to 25% of the total floor area of the overall development).
Airport officials don’t believe that such uses as nightclubs
will be prime business draws at the Airco site. There
will be no ‘waterfront’ land at the Airco site for
development.
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Question
35-
Can the runway be extended toward Ulmerton Rd. if the
once Neighborly Senior Services parcel (now zoned commercial)
is not changed to Transportation zoning?
A physical expansion of the runway into the former
Neighborly Services parcels would require that land
to be rezoned appropriately.
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Question
36-
Can navigational equipment and lighting be
installed on Airco and the once Neighborly Services
parcels with the proposed IPD (sic) zoning?
The IPD zoning will allow installation of navigational
equipment and lighting.
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Question
37-
Can the runway be extended without completely tearing out
Airco?
Yes.
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Question
38-
Could
the golf course stay and simply have the clubhouse
relocated?
Yes.
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Question
39-
Has the County Commission come to a quiet agreement
with the Wiggins Group from the UK become a 24-hour
cargo hub comparable to one in Smyrna, TN? The Wiggins
Group’s financials are weak.
No,
all formal and non-formal discussions ceased by December
2000 between Pinellas County officials and the Wiggins
Group. (a.k.a. Planestation) No agreement was reached.
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Question
40-
Does the Master Plan address water runoff to ensure
that once Airco is bulldozed and paved, that the resident’s
homes, streets, businesses, etc. will flood? Have any
studies been done on this?
All
land development requires site plan review by county
government. Southwest Florida Water Management District,
the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
and in some cases the Army Corps of Engineers also
review land development. One of the primary concerns
of each of these agencies is drainage. In Pinellas
runoff from a site in the post development condition
cannot exceed of the pre- development condition.
Runoff is required to be directed to retention ponds
or other holding facilities. Excess storm water from
retention ponds during storm events is required to
go into adequate outfalls and not flow onto neighboring
properties. All developers are required to submit
site plans and drainage studies during site plan
review to the above referenced agencies to show how
this is accomplished.
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Question
41-
The canal on the west side of Feather Sound was designed
to take water runoff that is not absorbed into the
surrounding ground. Is that canal intended to hold
additional water once Airco and the surrounding land
are developed?
The canal is an “outfall” structure to collect stormwater,
which has been treated, and outfall, or deliver it
to Tampa Bay. Treated stormwater from any development
within the canal’s watershed will go to the canal after
treatment. The canal is designed to take this stormwater
runoff to the Bay.
All new development is required to treat stormwater
prior to it leaving the improved site.
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Question
42-
Since the open space at Airco and the strip beside
Evergreen Avenue absorbs a lot of water, is flooding
likely to be a problem?
Flooding will not be a problem as a result of the development
of the Airco site since adequate flood control and
drainage will have to be provided in accordance with
County and State guidelines.
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Question
43-
Over development has caused flooding in many areas
of the county. Why does the county continue to use
“Economic Development” as a reason for land development
at the cost of residents’ quality of life?
While it is true that many older developments may
experience flooding, all new development from the mid-1970s
on must meet strict county and state guidelines designed
to prevent flooding problems.
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Question
44-
What are the implications of a bigger airport on the
roads in our area? All roads leading out from the airport
are traffic nightmares already.
-When will the 49th Street and 275 Interchange be completed?
-If the airport expansion is completed by 2004 as proposed
in the Master Plan, what is the county’s answer to
handling the traffic congestion until the interchange
is completed?
(These 3 questions are answered below).
Increased
development will result in increased traffic. While
we are not sure what the writer was refereeing
to as the “49th Street & 275 interchange” , we
do know that a connection between Roosevelt Boulevard/Ulmerton
Road corridor south to 118th Avenue and on to I275,
is planned. The project is in design and the County
is seeking ways to accelerate this project through
gas tax funds. While the State Department of Transportation
has projected this project be constructed in the year
2012, improvements at the Airport which generate additional
traffic will be regulated by “concurrency management”,
which require transportation facilities to be available
or to come on line within 3 years of the physical development.
Transportation facilities must be available to accommodate
new development.
To clarify, it is the runway extension that is projected
for completion in late 2005.
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Question
45-
Why is commercial property the only way the county
government can justify making the Airport profitable?
With small-hub airports, which St. Petersburg-Clearwater
is, non-aviation-related property (commercial property)
is essential to offset operational costs associated
with the Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration
encourages Airports to develop their non-aeronautical
property for such purposes.
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Question
46-
Why do three out of the four letters received from
the potential airlines sound contrived?
The FAA requires specific information regarding aircraft
operations to be included in the letters of intent,
therefore, most of the letters of intent are very similar
in format and language.
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Question
47-
Why is the county so involved in commercial property
transactions rather than serving the residents who
voted for them as representatives?
The development of non-aeronautical property is necessary
to provide the Airport with a consistent stream of
revenue in order to keep the Airport in a position
to support itself as an enterprise operation of Pinellas
County. The County developed the Airport Industrial
Parks in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Together
the tenants in these Industrial Parks provide more
than $939,000 in annual revenue to the Airport.
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Question
48-
How is it that county denies having anything to
do with the parcel that was sold to Neighborly
Senior Services, yet the factory at the end of Evergreen
allegedly
did not want to exercise their purchase option,
according to Frank Aiello, Airport Engineer.
Neighborly Senior Services purchased the parcel directly
from Moog Inc. In 1986, Moog Inc. purchased a 25.32-acre
parcel for the construction of new facilities and optioned
the remaining acreage for future industrial development.
Moog Inc. eventually sold their new facilities to Micro
Mo Electronics, which currently owns and occupies the
facilities. The sale to Micro Mo Electronics concluded
Moog’s business in the bay area except for their ownership
interest in the optioned property. Moog Inc. exercised
their option, as stipulated in their option agreement,
and sold the property directly to Neighborly Senior
Services to recoup their equity in the cost of their
option payments.
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Question
49-
Why were residents told by numerous real estate
agents that the area behind Evergreen Avenue was
a protected buffer when they purchase their homes?
The Moog option, dated November 7, 1986, is public
record. That option identifies the future use of the
site as its current M-1 industrial zoning. Sometimes
real estate agents make incorrect assumptions about
the uses on undeveloped lands adjacent to properties
they are selling. The property along the west side
of the canal has been zoned industrial since 1973;
however, portions of this land contain wetlands and
archeological sites, and those sections will not be
developed.
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Question
50-
What will be the impact on residential property
values?
The Feather Sound residents have enjoyed increased
property values during prior periods of adjoining commercial
land development. Past trends in property values indicates
that continued development of adjacent property for
business parks use would not diminish residential property
values.
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Question
51-
Despite the fact that the county claims that no
noise testing is necessary in the affected areas
due to the AVERAGE 65 decibels rule, why do residents
keep
complaining about noise?
Residents living outside the 65 DNL “contour areas”
may be subject to aircraft noise, but not to the extent
that the Federal Aviation Administration officially
deems to be incompatible for residential use. The DNL
is a federal standard which averages, through modeling,
the noise over one day. It is not a single event standard,
and therefore a higher noise event may occur on an
individual basis. The county is going to review the
report and take noise readings in the areas of citizen
concern.
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Question
52-
What studies have determined the best buffers
to airport noise for neighborhoods adjacent to the
airport
and /or under the flight paths?
No analysis has been conducted to study the noise
reduction by building buffers. An area of wetlands
and a cultural site east of Evergreen are being set
aside for this buffer. Any proposed rezoning will include
a designated open space buffer.
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Question
53-
How does the possibility of bringing in tourists
to PIE rather than Tampa International increase
quality of life or property values for the residents?
Bringing visitors directly into Pinellas County results
in new jobs being created and more direct tourism dollars
being invested locally. It is very likely that lower
costs at PIE allow for lower cost air fares which induce
travelers here, which would not otherwise travel to
the Tampa Bay area.
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Question
54-
Why is the current noise abatement policy on this
airport not being enforced? Why does the county
think that it will be enforced any better with
an expanded runway and developed property?
Noise abatement policies are currently being monitored
and enforced when violations are detected. The
runway expansion and development of vacant property
will not affect the enforcement of noise abatement
procedures. The Airport is acquiring a flight tracking
system which will activate in November 2003 that
will assist staff with monitoring compliance.
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Question
55-
There is allegedly a Noise Abatement Task
Force. Why have we not heard from them? Why
have their findings not been presented? Who is on the
Task Force? How were the chosen and by whom?
On August 7, 2002, the Board of County Commissioners
adopted a Resolution Establishing the Aircraft
Noise Abatement Task Force to make recommendations
on aircraft noise issues. Meetings are conducted
quarterly, with semi-annual reports on findings
and recommendations which are then submitted
to the Board of County Commissioners.
The Task Force consists of twenty-two (22) members:
8 residents, 2 military, 2 airline, 2 corporate/general
aviation, 1 airport, and 7 advisory members. The
County Administrator appointed members to the Task
Force. Community representatives were recommended
to the County Administrator by individual cities.
Initial meetings have been dedicated to getting
up to speed on the regulatory issues. Watch for
more activity in the near future.
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Question
56-
When will the technology for the “Web-based
tracking system” be available? Where is
it currently used? How effective has it been as a tool
for residents?
The
flight tracking system will be operational November
2003, and will be available to the public
through a link offered on the Airport’s
website (www.Fly2PIE.com),
and via the Airport Noise & Mitigation website (www.pinellascounty.org/airport).
Airports in Los Angeles, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale,
Miami, New Orleans, Boston, San Jose, and Louisville
are currently using the flight tracking system.
AirportMonitor ™ has been very effective in providing
flight information to the public in a clear, easy
to read format. Residents are able to go online
to obtain specific flight information (i.e. aircraft
type, altitude, direction, etc.), following aircraft
noise events. At large airports, Boston-Logan for
example, the AirportMonitor ™ page receives thousands
of hits each month.
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Question
57-
According to the published website, the Coast
Guard station is the busiest in the nation. Do we
need to add more noise to the busiest?
The Clearwater Air Station is the largest and
busiest Coast Guard station in the nation. We value
the Coast Guard presence and believe that commercial
service is important to the area as well. The objective
is to support these activities while being sensitive
to noise impacted communities.
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Question
58-
Can time restrictions be implemented, to say,
“no flights between 11pm and 7am? What time
restrictions do other regional airports have?
Why pave over one golf course to build a new one
a few miles away in Toy Town?
By federal law, the Airport is not authorized
to impose curfews that restrict hours of operation.
The Airport Noise and Capacity Act, passed in 1990,
limits restrictions airports can impose on aircraft
operations. Since 1990, no airport within the U.S.
has had a curfew approved by the FAA. The only
airports with operational curfews are those that
were in effect prior to 1990. Airports with restrictions
that were grand- fathered by the FAA include: John
Wayne, San Jose, Boston-Logan, MacArthur, Las Vegas,
San Diego, and Sarasota-Bradenton.
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Question
59-
According to a PIE official, the facility
will do routine and repair work on other
military helicopters as well as Black Hawks?
How many others
will be coming in?
Presently, there are 4 Black Hawk helicopters
based at PIE. The Army will acquire 4 additional
helicopters by the end of the year for a total
of 8.
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Question
60-
According to the Reserve Unit, Congressman
Young is urging that another unit of
Black Hawks (with a Medivac mission) be placed
at PIE. Is
this true?
No. The Airport has never been approached regarding
the addition of a Medivac unit.
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Question
61-
Once all the Federal tax dollars have been
spent and the Airport still remains
unprofitable, will it turn to cargo to make
up the shortfall?
Cargo revenue is only a small portion of the Airport’s
operating revenues. Out of an operating revenue
budget for FY 2004 of $9.4 million, $310,000 or
3.2% is attributable to revenues from cargo. There
are no plans to turn the Airport into a cargo hub.
The airport realizes sufficient operating revenue
and grants to defray its operating expenses and
therefore does not require a subsidy.
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Question
62-
Wouldn’t a waterfront park or recreation area
be of more value to the county’s residents and
visitors than an airport and offices?
Airco Golf is a portion of Airport property that
was deeded to the County by the Federal Government
to support aviation. Airco Golf was originally
developed by a private enterprise for profit, and
returned to the County at the end of a 40-year
lease term. The original lease between the County
and Airco Golf provided a source of revenue for
Airport operations and provided a maintenance-free
land bank of the
property for future Airport related use. The redevelopment
of Airco will strengthen Airport revenues and reduce
reliance on commercial airline traffic. It will
also have a substantial positive economic impact
on the county.
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Question
63-
If
Whitted Field in St. Petersburg closes, will
their operations be moved to St. Petersburg-Clearwater
Airport?
It is anticipated that a significant number of
aircraft operators would consider relocating to
PIE.
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Question
64-
We do not want the airport expanded or rezoned.
In my opinion this is a poor use of 223m$ (=300m$)
when a “world class” airport is just 15 minutes
away. Nationwide airline capacity is declining
(15-20%) and major airlines have just pulled out
of Sarasota and Naples, so why do we think they
would want to expand operations into Clearwater
Airport!!! “If we build it, they will come”??
PIE has increased passenger traffic from 650,000
in 2002 to almost 1 million in 2003. The reason
PIE service has not declined is because many of
the major carriers dropped direct non-stop service
to many destinations and began flying more routes
through their hubs. New and low-cost carriers have
taken advantage of entering these markets with
far less competition. More of these new and low-cost
airlines are looking for small, less congested,
affordable airports from which to operate to maintain
their competitive strategies. Passengers are also
looking for convenient and affordable alternatives
for travel.
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Question
65-
All
this terrible proposed work….Do you propose
doing this between midnight and 6am---the last
time you did work on the runways, it kept me
up every night for 3 weeks…It was a very bad
time and I will do anything I can to prevent
this from happening.
This has not been determined. We have not begun
construction design for any project in the Master
Plan or the proposed runway extension project.
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Question
66-
The main question
is where is the revenue coming from that is
going to repay it?
The airport is expected to operate as an “enterprise”
fund – meaning it is to finance its activity from
self-generated income. The future revenue will
come from a combination of Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT),
Passenger Facility Charges (PFC), or Airport funding/financing.
None of the funds are to come from local property
tax subsidy. If a sufficient level of these revenues
is not in place, the projects will not go forward.
Also, other projects, such as corporate and general
aviation hangar development, in the Master Plan
are expected to be funded by private sources.
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Question
67-
Who are these people that are going to be
paying us back?
Aviation users pay the Airport by a combination
of landing fees, fuel flowage fees, terminal fees,
passenger security fees, and rent on hangar leases.
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Question
68-
Do they have enough revenue to be able to
support it?
If the grants and business income are adequate
to support the individual projects, they will go
forward. If the funding is not in hand or forecasted,
the projects will not go forward.
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Question
69-
Is there a new terminal in the works in any
plan? What about the airport control tower?
The Master Plan identifies the need for a new
terminal, due to current space limitations, and
a projected increase in passenger traffic. Currently
no design plans or construction plans are ‘in the
works”.
The Air Traffic Control Tower is owned and maintained
by the Federal Aviation Administration. There are
no plans for additional improvements or relocation.
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Question
70-
Did you ever try to track the number on a
plane going 200 miles per hour?
What about the planes coming in from the south
and taking off from the south. Nobody can answer
these questions. Who is supposed to be marshalling
this program?
The Airport has installed an aircraft flight tracking
system on it’s website in early November 2003.
Both the Airport and the general may access information
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