Item A: Ordinance on Airport Master Plan

Home Browse Search

Mr. Flock explained the role of the commissions was to make recommendations to elected officials on the plan. He introduced Tim Doll, Eugene Airport Manager, and project consultant Damon Smith with Mead and Hunt, Inc. Staff asked the Planning Commissions to deliberate this evening and develop a recommendation for elected officials unless there was a need for a follow-up meeting. He directed commissioners to a document entitled Eugene Airport Master Plan Update Executive Summary, May 2010. He noted the adoption included no formal land use designation changes, or rezoning, but rather spoke to the potential future for those actions based on further study in relation to timing of various improvements that may be proposed. This was a functional refinement plan that would replace previous versions of the Airport Master Plan. He noted the 1999 master plan update involved land use designation changes related to an airport expansion, acquisition of additional properties, development of the parallel runway and realignment of Greenhill Road, all of which required additional indepth plan amendments. Mr. Flock stated the master plan update included several improvements to the airport to accommo- date demand over the planning horizon until 2026. The requirement for the master plan was established by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). State statutes required local adoption of the plan to protect against incompatible land uses. Joint action by the two commissions was required because the airport was located outside the City’s urban growth boundary (UGB) and within in the Metro Plan boundary. The land use regulations were under County jurisdiction while the facility was owned by the City and involved the City as a partner in the Metro Plan. He iterated an extensive public process, going back to establishment of an advisory committee in 2006, had led to this public hearing. No testimony had been received in response to the public notice for this hearing, but comments had been received today from Mark Bernard, Senior Planner, Lane County Public Works Transportation Planning, copies of which were distributed to commissioners and would be included in the public record. Mr. Noble stated he had previously been, but was no longer, employed by the City of Eugene at the airport. He knew and had worked with the applicant and consultants. He was the Executive Director of the Airport Management Association of which Mr. Doll was a member. He had not discussed this project with Mr. Doll and had had no contact with the consultants since his employment. He did not believe he had a conflict of interest and his contacts would not impact his ability to make an impartial decision. Tim Doll, Eugene Airport Director, explained the FAA required airports that accepted federal funding to undertake a master planning process, with updates approximately every ten years. The airport master plan was a planning document used by airport managers as a guide, including feasibility analysis, for a twenty year period to meet future capacity commitments. A master plan advisory committee consisting of seventeen members held six meetings in addition to four public meetings that provided opportunities for public input. Damon Smith, project consultant, explained Mead and Hunt, an aviation consulting firm had been working with the City since 2006 on this project. He reviewed the Eugene Airport Master Plan Update Executive Summary, May 2010. He explained the existing facility and properties owned by the City, coupled with the anticipated forecasts for a twenty year period impacted facility requirements necessary to support expected growth, had been identified. He reviewed identified MINUTES June 1, 2010 Page 2 Joint Public Hearing of the City of Eugene and Lane County Planning Commissions