College hesitates on runway expansion issue

Dye meets with commissioner to hash out issues of commerce

The debate surrounding the expansion of the Lorain County Regional airport runway is far from dead. As the Lorain County Commission has continued to move forward in planning the changes, local citizens are still worried about effects of the plans. Citizens scored a victory recently, however, by coercing county commissioners to attend an open community meeting to be held next week.

The forum will be moderated by Ohio State Representative John Bender, and it is being held to update the general public about the airport plans. Three commissioners, Michael Ross, Mary Jo Vasi and Betty Blair, as well as Airport Director Dan Abfall will be at the forum.

Two new developments in the airport issue have incited more concern with citizens. The County Commission, with Ross as the major proponent, voted to buy the airport from Midwest Air Services. At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing a proposal to extend the airport's runway from the current 5,000 feet to 7,500 feet.

Opponents of the plans say these two steps are advancements that could lead to greater, under-planned development in Lorain County which would endanger the rural atmosphere.

"We're pretty much in the dark," said Ken Sloane, who sits on the Oberlin City Council and is the director of piano technology. This statement was made by many other people as well, all of whom expressed concern that the commissioners weren't providing the public with enough information about the airport. In response, Ross stressed that the County Commission meetings are open to the public. He suggested that those people who are concerned with the issue are responsible for their lack of information.

"Up to this point they have been proceeding with their own agenda," said Brad Masi, the projects coordinator for environmental studies. Masi is one of the College staff who has been watching the issue. Daniel Gardner, assistant to the president for community affairs, will be representing the College at the Thursday forum."We are seeking information," Gardner said. Because there is no formal proposal, the College has not taken any position but has retained legal council to represent them in the matter.

Last semester, President Nancy Dye sent a letter to the commissioners expressing her concerns. She met with Ross Wednesday in an ongoing attempt to gather information on the proposed expansion. "[The meeting was] to solicit the College's official input," said Ross.

"I do think it is important to deliberate and to study and to learn and to take a position on this," said Dye.

The commissioners have said that they would hold informational forums for those who have questions or concerns pertaining to the expansion; however, this upcoming forum is the first in over a year.

"In essence, we are doing the county commissioner's job for them," said Professor of Environmental Studies David Orr, noting that it was a community group who set up the forum and not the commissioners. This fact was another sore point made by many opponents of the airport development.

Regional development seems to be a major factor in all of this. "What is really taking place here is regional development that would center on that little airport," said Dye.

According to Stephen Douglass, member of a citizens action group, the Transportation Improvement District has big plans for the northwest corridor of Lorain County. He suggested that there were plans to expand Route 58 to a four-lane highway which would serve as a north-south route between I-80 and I-90. This, along with a new rail line would open up shipping routes.

Ross admits that with the increased length of the runway, the airport would open up to other planes, possible cargo planes, which would nicely complement the rail and road shipping routes. President of the Airport Authority board Butch Suki agreed.

"If the runway is expanded more then the airport could handle larger planes," he said. Douglass admitted that this might increase jobs and be financially profitable, but the skepticism remains. According to a report by Cleveland State University professor Ned Hill, such endeavors in northeast Ohio are rarely profitable. Hill will be among the speakers at the Thursday forum.

Negative effects of airport development are the largest scare to everyone.

"Noise pollution degrades the quality of life for everyone, in addition to the music," said Dye.

"I think this is a major issue for the College. What major college has a freight airport three miles away? How can we compete?" asked Orr.

Many people have expressed concerns about the noise factor despite the fact that planes landing at the airport must legally make a right turn to the runway in order to avoid flight over Oberlin.

Increased traffic along Route 58 is a second concern- especially if it is increased to a four-land highway. "One of the things that could degrade the quality of life of Oberlin is more trucks rumbling down 58 every day," said Dye. Moreover, the countryside does not have building codes which could lead to shoddily constructed urban sprawl.

Ron Twinning, Transportation Improvement District member, has created the Land Use Planning committee to help plan out the development. Orr will sit on the transportation division of the committee. "They have no coherent land use plan. They don't even know where the airport fits in, and yet they've already started planning it," Orr said. Orr sees the planning committee as a step in the right direction, however.

If the runway extension is approved by the FAA, 90 percent of the total cost will be covered by the federal government, with the remaining 10 percent being split equally between the state and county. As of the moment, there are no other proposals for development; however, many members of the community are waiting for more information that will come with the Thursday forum.