"Burbank residents complain airport deal didn't go far enough"

Thursday, July 22, 2004

Burbank residents complain airport deal didn't go far enough
The Associated Press


BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - Many residents complained that a deal to block
development of a new terminal at the Bob Hope Airport didn't go far
enough.

The agreement, which city and airport officials were still working on,
only bars expansion of the airport for 10 years, said opponents of the
plan.

The city would need to approve any expansion plan after the time limit
is up, as would voters.

"Ten years is going to fly by," said James Arona, 51. "We don't know
what the council is going to be like in 10 years."

The proposal would also keep the airport from adding gates to the
existing terminal for another seven years. The agreement could be given
final approval in November.

If the city and airport are unable to work out an agreement, the city
could simply rezone the airport land to prevent any expansion. But
attorneys said that could lead to costly legal battles with the airport.

Resident Ron Vanderford said the proposed agreement virtually guarantees
that the airport would attempt to expand once the 10 years is passed.

"It's not to protect residents," he said. "It's to protect the ability
of the airport to build a 27-gate terminal."


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