[Archive Home][Date Prev][Date Next][Index]
CAA: Airport News, "Lebanon, Ind., Airport Development Plans On Hold until Appeal"
February 4, 2000
Lebanon, Ind., Airport Development Plans On Hold until Appeal
The Indianapolis Star and News
Feb. 4--LEBANON, Ind.--The Terry Airport development, off the radar screen
now, will be on the horizon again for the Boone County Commissioners, says
the developer's attorney.
Michael J. Andreoli, attorney for Terry Airport Developers, said Thursday
his clients plan to present the same proposal for the rezoning of 623 acres
to the commissioners "at some point in time."
Andreoli will have until early May to appeal the unanimous negative vote
that the Boone County Area Plan Commission forwarded to the County
Commissioners.
By law, the Plan Commission's vote must be certified to the County
Commissioners within 10 days. The developer then has 90 days to file an
appeal.
Andreoli will have to persuade the three County Commissioners to reverse the
Plan Commission's 7-0 unfavorable recommendation, reached after a two-hour
meeting Wednesday before 200 area residents at the 4-H Fairgrounds.
If the commissioners decline to take action on the proposal within the 90
days, then the Plan Commission's vote dooms the project, said John R.
Molitor, Plan Commission attorney.
On Thursday, Andreoli said he believed the project is still valid and
doesn't plan any changes, mainly because the Plan Commission imposed no
restrictions or commitments.
He acknowledged some obstacles "based on the rhetoric" Wednesday night.
Terry Airport Developers asked the Plan Commission for a favorable vote to
rezone land, including 366 acres of the airport, from its agricultural use
to general business and light industrial.
Ed Espey of Terry Airport Developers also heads a wholesale lumber business.
He wants to build a warehouse at the airport, plus make improvements to the
facility.
But area residents, many represented by the Boone-Hamilton Property Owners
Association, mounted considerable opposition to the project.
The group cited increased traffic on Ind. 32 and surrounding county roads.
Also mentioned was the possible financial obligation of the county to
surrounding property owners if airport operations expand.
Chris W. Schnepf, who lives adjacent to the airport, said that when
Indianapolis International Airport expanded last year, adjacent property
owners were awarded 25 percent of the value of their land because of the
effect of the expansion.
Bill Thompson, who lives on County Road 1200 East, also spoke. He said no
tax analysis of the project, or reports on drainage and environmental
issues, have been forthcoming as originally indicated by Andreoli.
Sel Laughter, a resident of Austin Oaks, which is within the approach path
of the airport, reminded the commission it had approved several residential
subdivisions within the traffic pattern.
Laughter challenged the commission's logic of allowing pricey homes near the
airport and then damaging those property values with the projected increased
air traffic over the new houses.
"You can't have them both ways," Laughter said.
Roy Wood, a member of the Boone County Council and resident of Lebanon, told
the commission, "Allowing this to develop does not represent good
stewardship."
He cited the amount of surface water runoff that would occur as a result of
the square footage of rooftops from the new buildings in the proposed
project.
Wood calculated that a 1-inch rainfall would produce 16 million gallons of
water, normally absorbed by vacant land, that instead would drain into
Finley Creek, and then into Eagle Creek.
"I hope you realize this will alter the structure of these streams, and
change the nature of those streams as well," he said. "Allowing this to
develop does not represent good stewardship."
*****************************************
California Aviation Alliance: Airport News List E-mail Commands
To subscribe to the Airport News List, send an email, from the email account you wish to receive your posts on, addressed to listserv@californiaaviation.org and place only the following in the first line of the body of the message:
Subscribe airport YourFirstName YourLastName YourJobTitle YourAirport/Company
To unsubscribe from the Airport News List, send an email, from the email account you have been receiving your posts on, addressed to listserv@californiaaviation.org and place only the following in the first line of the body of the message:
Unsubscribe airport YourFirstName YourLastName
If you have problems or questions concerning your subscription, please contact stepheni@cwnet.com or visit the CAA Mail List Administration Page at http://www.californiaaviation.org/serv01.htm