CAA: GA News, "Lancaster County, S.C., Seeks to Condemn Land for Airport's Expansion"

["Stephen Irwin" <stepheni@xxxxxxxxx>]

Wednesday, November 6, 2002

Lancaster County, S.C., Seeks to Condemn Land for Airport's Expansion
The Charlotte Observer, N.C.


LANCASTER, S.C.--Lancaster County is moving to condemn 90 acres next to
Lancaster County Airport to extend the runway and allow an instrument
landing system to be installed. 

The additions will help the airport deal with its increasing traffic and
improve safety conditions, said airport manager Everette Tate. 

The instrument landing system, which requires the additional runway
space, would guide planes when visibility is low. 

Currently, planes cannot safely land at the airport during bad weather. 

The safety improvements would be funded by $300,000 from the Federal
Aviation Administration, said Scott Seritt, manager at FAA's Southern
region office. To get the money, the county will have to apply for the
funds and have improvement plans approved by the FAA. 

The land the county wants condemned is part of the Gibson Estate. 

The airport sits on 300 acres originally purchased from the same family.
County administrator Chap Hurst said he has tried to avoid the
condemnation proceedings by working with the family for the past two
years. But the county has not been able to strike a deal, and some of
the FAA money is available only until September 2003. Hurst said the
county can't wait any longer to acquire the land.

"There is a definite public need," he said. "It's going to become more
important as Lancaster County grows."

The land's owners could not be reached for comment. 

Condemnation is the legal process of purchasing privately owned land for
a public purpose. When the government and the property owner can't agree
on a price, the government sues. If the government wins, a court then
determines a fair market price for the government to pay. 

Tate said he has seen an increase in the airport's traffic since he
began working there two years ago. He estimated there are 40 to 50
flights per week, a 25 percent increase over last year. Most of the
airport's clients are businesspeople from local companies and
prospective corporate clients. 

"No CEO likes to come to town on a bus," said Jack Smith, chair of the
county's airport commission. "The easier we make it for corporations to
come here, the more they look favorably upon us."

The airport has undergone some changes in recent years. A taxiway
parallel to the runway was added three years ago so that pilots would
not have to taxi on the runway. 

The Tates said they hope these improvements are just the beginning. 

Everette Tate pictures a newly decorated reception area free of the
orange and blue furniture and lights that have been with the airport
since its 1969 opening. 

Hurst said construction could begin in 2003.


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