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Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868
INDEPENDENCE -- Concerns by airpark residents about preserving their taxiway access to the Independence State Airport is drawing more attention from state and federal officials.
In early February, Independence leaders, citizens, and state and federal lawmakers discussed the through-the-fence agreement via teleconference with Federal Aviation Administration heads.
And representatives of FAA's Office of Airports are expected to visit the facility this week, said Laura Brown, communications director for the agency.
The FAA released an update last September of its operating guidelines that stressed prohibiting residential development near airports that receive government funding.
State-owned airports that allow TTFs could risk losing annual federal grants, the memorandum also said.
Airpark residents fear this endangers future TTF agreements with the Oregon Department of Aviation, which will hurt access and, more importantly, property values.
Sen. Jeff Merkley's office arranged the Feb. 12 informational meeting with the FAA after receiving letters from the city and neighbors.
"We hope the Independence issue can be resolved and that it can serve as a national model for how TTFs are constructed," said Courtney Warner-Crowell, a Merkley spokeswoman.
FAA's general concerns regarding TTFs have centered on the potential for complaints by nearby homeowners, which could threaten operations. ODA and airpark residents have opined the community of pilots pays monthly dues for airstrip access and has no reason to complain.
State Rep. Vicki Berger, whose constituency includes Independence, attended the meeting and said FAA officials could provide no data that the airpark was a problem.
"They gave anecdotal evidence for residential airparks in general, but couldn't point to anything that says ours is a problem," Berger said. "Why are we being punished if somebody else isn't doing it right?"
Another issue raised was the ability of airstrip access to be transferred in the event of an airpark property sale, a major concern of residents. ODA and the neighborhood homeowner associations have TTF agreements that extend to 2034.
Brown said in a Feb. 22 e-mail that her agency has been willing to issue a letter that provides assurance that no imminent action be taken against the homes.
"We have asked, in return, to receive the homeowners' agreements with the ODA (airport sponsor) first so that we can better understand the specific situation at Independence," she said. "We have not yet received those agreements."
John Horn, a resident who sat in on the meeting, said he felt the FAA showed some flexibility on the matter.
"I got a sense, right or wrong, that they're considering changing their one-size-fits-all policy," Horn said. "Then again, were they blowing sunshine up my skirt or do they mean it?"
Have a Comment?
The Federal Aviation Administration is taking comments from the public on its airport compliance manual until March 31.
Submissions can be made to your local elected representatives, which will be passed on to the FAA or be sent via e-mail to Laura Brown at laura.j.brown@faa.gov.
About 70 comments have been issued nationwide on the guideline changes, most of them regarding the Independence airport situation, Brown said.
