FeedsOpinions differ on airport plan
Even if they didn’t agree with the Wayne County Airport Authority master plan, residents who attended the final of four public sessions hosted by the authority appear to have had their questions answered.
The sessions, which took place at the Metropolitan Hotel in Romulus, were scheduled by authority officials to give residents an opportunity to learn more about the plan, and to find out if they’re going to be affected by the construction of a new runway along Eureka Road, said Scott Wintner, an airport spokesman.
“I think we had good attendance for these sessions – much better than we had for the meetings to discuss the plan initially,” he said. “I would say that we’ve had about 80 people here at each session. We’re very pleased with the participation.”
Wintner added that media attention may have driven people into the sessions.
“There’s been a lot written about the plan,” he said. “This is a chance for people to ask specific questions.”
The plan
The Airport Master Plan was devised throughout 2006 and 2007 in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration rules and to devise a plan to meet what airport officials believe will be increased usage by business and leisure travelers in the next two decades, according to airport officials.
If implemented, the plan would effectively reduce the size of the City of Romulus by about 7 percent, and potentially by 3,500 residents.
The proposed runway remains the most controversial part of the plan because many businesses and homes would have to be demolished to provide adequate space.
The toll on the city would be the loss of the 350-unit Sky Harbor Apartments, 30 industrial buildings, 18 commercial buildings, at least one subdivision, and Merriman Elementary School. In all, about 800 residences would be demolished, and the city could stand to lose almost $1 million in assessed revenue, according to the city.
The school district could lose as much as $1.7 million in revenue.
An underground or aboveground monorail system could be added to transport travelers and employees around the airport grounds by 2013. A cargo operation could be added near the Wayne-Vining Road area.
The three-phase master plan outlines an expansion that would take until 2027 to complete.
The authority is expected to vote on the plan later this month.
Differing views
During the meetings, several residents asked about the necessity of an additional runway, and the fact that a consultant hired by the city has said a new runway can be constructed at the airport without the use of additional land on Eureka Road.
“They’re absolutely right,” said Deven Judd, a consultant with Jacobson-Daniels, a firm hired by the airport to help devise the master plan.
“We could add a runway, but what we’re talking about is capacity,” he added. “We need the space to be able to fly planes in and out of the airport safely, and there’s no way we can do that (with a runway on the property).”
Another popular question for people who live in the Oakbrook subdivision – which would be demolished to make room for the runway – was how home value would be determined if the plan is implemented.
Wendy Snider, a relocation expert hired by the airport, said state law required values to be based on home prices outside the affected area to ensure residents are properly compensated.
“We would look at home values miles away from the affected area, along with individual aspects of the house,” she said.
Home sellers could get 125 percent of the determined value of their home, and would have the ability to appeal the price through the court system if they feel the offer is less than the appraised value, Snider said.
Residents concerned
Al Norris, a residents who found out he would not be affected by the relocation, said he believed the community was stirred up about something that may never happen.
“Everyone is in an uproar because of this,” he said. “People are wondering if they’re going to have to move – it’s been disruptive.”
Katherine Sisco and her husband, Darryl, moved to their home in the Oakbrook subdivision in 1971, and say buyouts won’t happen soon enough.
“Most of the people in our neighborhood are close to our age, and want out,” she said. “We’re getting to the point where we can’t take care of the lawn, and we’re just ready to go.”
Sisco did say she wishes the airport would have waited on the master plan a few years, however.
“Now, we can’t sell our homes if we want to leave sooner than the expansion,” she said. “But if they give us a fair price, we’ll go.”
