— by Sadie Bailey —
Are you one of the many people who had no idea the Port was considering airport expansion, or just found out, as I did, from the Larsons, where my storage unit is?
Questions/Concerns:
~ there were no documents or maps in the Public Library for Public review (same as with the tree removal project)
~ There will be no public updates from the Port, except by email subscription.
~ Comments go to the Expansion Project Manager, but who’s providing Public Oversight? Is this FAA protocol?
~ All “alternatives” except “No build” Alternative 1, re-route Mount Baker Road through Eastsound Swale to Enchanted Forest Road (with one alternative, almost as bad.) How would that affect Lavender Hollow residents, pets, wildlife, and walking trails, if Orion Lane must become a 2-way through street to connect with this road?
~ All alternatves except “no-build” remove boat slips from Brandt’s Landing; some take land from residences, hangars, and storage units.
~ We weren’t told up-front that the tree removal project tied in with the airport Expansion Plan road re-route; seems obvious now.
~ We need a carrying-capacity study and Full Buildout Analysis before expansion of infrastructure. (We’ve asked the County for 30 years!)
How Will the Monies Be Used?
~10,000 deplanements gets the “big” money. (one deplanement = 1 person departing an aircraft.) Does this data include private and military aircraft? The FAA uses ENplanement data to grant monies; is that the same?
~ What’s the motive to push for a multiple increase in FAA monies – from $150,000 a year to $1 MILLION a year? What strings are attached? Who benefits?
~ Is there FAA Oversight to uphold citizens’ wants if the majority of us DON’T WANT airport expansion?
~ Since this expansion is not FAA mandated, why is the Port going forward? Are the other islands’ airports also pushing for expansion?
~ Is the Port obligated to devote equal attention to Marine Public Access, and provide Public shower facilities?
~Why do we need customs and border control use at Eastsound Airport? Would this mean “Homeland Security,” I.C.E. agents hunting and harassing our Latino and other immigrant friends and neighbors? Exponential militarization?
~ Expansion WILL have serious land and marine environmental impacts. What restoration (not “mitigation”) is planned? Who will oversee that?
comment HERE to the project manager, Leah Henderson – orcasmasterplan@dowl.com
There was not space to print all of my questions and concerns, as they keep growing. Traffic issues; becoming a Primary airport with over 10,000 enplanements and what that entails that we don’t know, (as Joe Symons and Joe Murphy addressed).
If you want an extension to the comment period, please include that in your comment. If you have questions and concerns of your own that you want the Port to address, now’s your chance.
I realize that with the most recent Propane Tank and Haven Road betrayals of Eastsounders, it’s hard to rally for yet another potential and probable betrayal of Public Trust. I just don’t think that lets us (me, anyway) off the hook to act anyway – if nothing else, it builds Legal Standing since, in theory, the Port is a Public facility and thus also owned by the People.
Thank you Sadie, for bringing this to our attention. We appreciate the work and time you give.
Send your comments today!?! Petition is at Score! 11-4, or make your own:
The petition reads: We the undersigned oppose expansion of Eastsound Airport The Port’s proposal process lacks transparency, sufficient public outreach and time for us to understand and digest the huge impacts on our town by this proposal. We propose that the July 13 deadline be pushed back to September, and that the Port stall ANY work on their “preferred plan” until all comments are analyzed by a fair and impartial advisory group. The outcome needs to be dictated by what the Public wants — not by Port officials wanting a 6+ fold increase in annual Federal monies.
https://www.portoforcas.com/dev/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Orcas_Airport_Final_EA_20161005.pdf
I’ve been reading this report all morning, hope it works.
If not google WHPacific, Orcas Airport.
I would add the 1st meeting (when we wondered where the tree’s went?)
came out in the Sounder Dec. 11th 2013.
It was under Public Notices; Port of Orcas, 6 p.m. Airport Conference Room
Dec. 12 2013. No mention of the content & as per the above evaluation no-one came except a few pilots. Go Figure.
Also read the KORS eval. as to number of flight’s which is about the same.
SJCouncil has claimed it is for “Amazon & FedEx”
Also found a tidbit with a private firm Victor that flies max 12 people in private jets…..
sponsored by BP Oil, follow the money….
Sadie & Susan; Thanks for starting a conversation & petition!
P.S. Leah Henderson works for DOWL another good read.
Thank you, Sadie, for bringing up these important questions, and for others who have commented here.
I just wanna know who are the people who will make this decision? I totally agree with most of you, except the bots on this thread…but seriously who is on this commission?
Good Question, Kathleen Collister, as, up until early this week, that information couldn’t be found on the Port Website – nor could any meeting minutes! Now, with the public hue and cry, it seems that sometime after Sunday, July 8, someone updated the entire website. Suddenly, minutes from 2016 through 2018 are posted (earlier than 2016 are still not); the current port commissioners and their contact info are now posted (they weren’t since 2015 and in some cases the website was not updated since 2014), and an actual dated press release stating a 2+ week extension, and other changes have been posted. This makes the Port SEEM like it has had this information all along and was being transparent: it didn’t and it wasn’t. I am happy to see that this is finally being rectified now.
But… why not all along?