ISAS Informational Meeting

December 5, 2005

 

The meeting was called to order by moderator Dave Martin at 7:00 PM.  Present were Andy Andersen, Robert English, Ken Hardwick, Ray Costello, Jim Allen, Tom Ritchey, Geoff Crook, Bob Hidley, Tom Franklin, Harry Malette, Dave Martin, and Elaine Stewart.  Guests at tonight’s meeting: Henry and Donna Bartle, Marcela Nuell, Larry Weber, Lynn McDonald, Josh Hadachek, Kip Hanson, Jason, Cane, Norm and Reta Farb, Kelly Wilson, Scott Anslem, Monte Webster, Jon Husser, Mark Prince, Tom Pfaff, Paul and Patty Turgesen, Linda Schulte, Mac and Rena Booth, Lorraine Ayres, Marlene Moreno, Richard Koida, Al and Margaret Cleveland, David Altman, Herb Jolliff, Jerry Pryce, Mary W. Brown, Greg Smith, John Sedey, Emil Plude, Brian Dalton, Charles Landes, Denton and Jane Honbeck, Gary McCormick, Jim Davis, Alan Wright, Gary Brown, Ted and Gwen Boer, Larry Kruljak, Phyllis Upright, Dick Wildman, Dan and Gail Hill, Bob Schwarzler, Tom Turnbull, Linda Dolliff, Ken Scofield, Carole Gabel, Pete Weber, and John Conley.

 

Dave Martin began the presentation by announcing that the land west to the airport is currently for sale for non-farm use and, while the change of zoning cannot be made until the State Supreme Court decides about the constitutionality of Measure 37, it represents a real danger for future encroachment which is a real factor in the loss of airports across the country.  The future for the land west of the airport could include airport expansion, though we have to make sure that whatever happens it will be something that does not endanger the airport and, therefore, our community.  Dave then introduced the participants at the table and also in the front row, after which Bob Hidley was handed the mic.

 

Bob Hidley's topic was the new hangars at the south end of the airport, including the fire water segment of the project that has been the delay.  Annexation of that land into the City was necessary to obtain the rights to fire water.  Fire truck access was also an issue, which has been solved by enabling a hose to be connected from across the street should a fire have to be fought.  Since water cannot be provided to areas outside the city, and maintenance of the pipes is also an issue, the annexation (which includes the restaurant and hangars to the south of that) has been approved and finalized this week.  There were some questions about how this would affect taxes on existing structures, and because there was no representative from the City at tonight's meeting that question could not be adequately answered.

 

Andy Andersen took the microphone at this point, calling people's attention to a slide show he had prepared that was showing on the screen, and showed the 190 acres that is currently for sale.  The only way that this property can be developed for non-farm use is if Measure 37 is upheld by the court (note that, if it is struck down, there is another ballot measure that could reinstate the provision for the 2007 election). 

 

Elaine Stewart said that the idea of a golf course is a good one, but there needs to be a consensus about how many people would use it and its cost.  Jim Allen then chimed in to say that there were numerous hurdles including an analysis on whether this would be a good location for an urban growth boundary expansion.  This piece of property is considered high-value farmland.  The public analysis of this property usage is going to be a significant process, let alone the cost of starting up and maintaining a golf course.  A question came from the floor as to whether the land was zoned for a golf course now, and the answer was that it could be authorized through the land-use process though that would not be easy to do.  There was another question about the "reincarnation" of measure 37, and the cautious answer was that this issue would be with us whether measure 37 is kept or not.  There was some information from the floor that the current owners of that property have not owned it for very long and have no choice as to how their property can be developed under measure 37.  The problem is that the measure was not written very clearly to start with.

 

Andy continued his dissertation describing the current buffers to the north, east, and south side.  There is an 18-acre slice immediately north of the runway that was purchased by the ODA and is protected from future development.  There was a question from the floor as to the ODA's plans for the land to the west, and the answer from Bob Hidley was that there is an ongoing study, which will produce a prioritized list of airports to develop for greatest economic benefit.  That study should be completed by the end of the summer in 2006.  Tom Franklin stated that there were lots of other airports around the states that are competing for the same Federal dollars, and nothing happens without that money.  Andy asked at this point if a Federally allotted line of funding (called "Connect Oregon", through lottery bond sales) has been asked for by the ODA, and Bob's answer was that they weren't that far along yet. 

 

Andy then talked about the implementation of new buffers, which included the possibility of annexation of a "west airpark" into the city.  Ray Costello, who was pitch-hitting for Mike Furgeson as rep for the AOPA, introduced himself and described the AOPA's mission and major concern which is the preservation of airports.  He went on to say that Oregon had the best land-use laws in the country as far as airports are concerned, and that the AOPA would be glad to assist in any way it can to keep airports like this on the map.

 

Tom Franklin at this point asked what kind of process would be necessary in a development like this.  Jim Allen said that a similar project in Dallas took five years for the review to finish.  He described the various boards and commissions that would get into the act.  He estimated that a year for that process would be optimistic.  There was a question from the floor about what kind of development would be permitted within a certain distance from the airport, and the answer was that there was no specific ordinance about that but there is what is called an 'overlay zone'.  Harry Malette stated that there was a stipulation in house deeds for two miles around so that the owners know that they are in an airpark zone.  Tom Ritchey reinforced what Harry said about people getting involved in the planning process.

 

Land-use consultant Jeff Tross spoke as a representative for the current owner of the property.  He said that the owner was interested in hearing more about the proposal to expand the airport to purchase the 41 acres.  He also further explained the process for amendment to the urban growth boundary, which includes a "state planning goal exception" (which is a very complex and time-consuming bureaucratic process).  It is rare that an exception to the goals is allowed.  A quasi-judicial application, in which the burden of proof is on the owner, is what would be required in this case.  The concern for his client, should the airport expand onto his land, is having a leftover parcel which he does not want.  Jim had a comment to add to that, in that there had to be a proven need for this land to be included within City boundaries, before it could be considered for development evaluation.

 

Andy then thanked everyone who showed up and contributed to the discussion, and Dave Martin publicly concluded the proceedings by announcing that the minutes for tonight's meeting will be posted on the ISAS web site.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by Robert English, recording secretary

 

 

InfoMeeting1205.doc (corrected 1/16/06)