Hello All -
Thank you for sharing your voice as to what we want (and don't want) for our Addison Airport. There is power in us all standing together with these asks on behalf of our community's quality of life. If you have not shared this petition with anyone - may I ask that you share it with at least one other resident to make them aware?
I would like you have consider this food for thought:
- Our 150 Study (noise study) was completed over 20 years ago which identified only ONE noise sensitive area. Has Addison changed in 20 years? Why aren't we updating the noise study to ask for more voluntary considerations of noise sensitive areas and have evidence of a need? My home wasn't even built in 2004!
- What can get us MANDATORY compliance for noise is a 161 - which is usually not approved by the FAA and is expensive. Why would the FAA approve a 161 if we HAVE NO EVIDENCE? Let's make sure we document a health and noise BASELINE before the NEXT 20 years of more operations!
- Why are we not considering an INDEPENDENT HEALTH ASSESSMENT by a local university (such as UT Southwestern with environmental health researchers) around $150,000–$350,000? They approved $100k to update the pool bathrooms! What is our health worth?
- What do you call flights that are not completed by private owners that produce revenue? Right now our commercial classification is not that of Love Field or DFW - but the majority of the flights are for profit flights - the classification is just not that of a large airport. No, Southwest is not coming to Addison Airport - but yes they are wanting more corporate/ commercial operations and to purchase surrounding private land to add to the airport as it is available. Do you like that the private owners are being pushed out for corporate - changing the dynamic of our airport?
- The difference in the number of operations going down is because 2 flight schools left. The reason why we have more planes than jets is because we still have flight schools and an aviation high school. Have you noticed more noise and more fuel smells over the years? Southwest has approved a 2 billion expansion at Love and McKinney is expanding - don't you think that will also affect the air traffic over us? Addison projects 50% operation increase over a period of time - so how will that happen without expansion of the airport when they currently have so many flights? Sure - new aircraft is quieter - but how about MORE run-ups and a high speed capability to get more flights processed?
The master plan's numbers are a forecast with a maximum use proposal - with the possibility to acquire private properties around the airport as it becomes available. If private property is acquired by the Airport - it comes off of Addison's tax roll and into the FAA's control. This expanded use may involve or impact the use of our tax dollars from our general fund or FAA grants (which bind Addison to FAA's control), so this petition is to bring awareness to you - the taxpayer before it is approved.
With land being so valuable (and land within the airport not subject to our property tax) - a speaker Tuesday night brought up a good point that Addison needs to take a look at value of the land that we are giving up to the FAA's control. It honestly could be worth over a billion dollars - yet we do not receive property tax from the airport. Since we give this up - the least they can do is to CONSIDER OUR HEALTH IMPACTS !
(I first found out about the impact of FAA control of our land when I was on the police bond committee. A major consideration to not remodel our station was because of the FAA's control of our station's land.)
(Already as time has progressed - the airport has developed more for the benefit of corporate/commercial use - not private owners over the years who have been pushed out and less accessible for the aviation community - and without a health study or noise pollution study to consider the quality of life for the residents.)
I thank our staff and council for the 4 hour long meeting to discuss the current state of the master plan. If you would like to watch the meeting Tuesday - it is linked here and you can skip to the airport parts you would like to watch: https://addisontx.new.swagit.com/videos/393502
I would like to especially thank the council members and mayor for questioning the high speed taxiway and extension and Councilman Liscio for asking for a health study. Thank you to Councilman Smith for asking them to implement the citizen feedback, slow down, and listen.
If you read this far...
Here are additional resources to review:
Thank you to Kate Beregon of the Branch Herald for coming to the community meeting - https://branchherald.com/stories/residents-press-addison-on-airport-noise-as-master-plan-advances,93567
Here is Master Plan information and FAQs: https://www.addisonairportmasterplan.com/
I hope you share this petition with others as I don't think anything in this petition is misleading. These are all legitimate concerns and asks. If you have any concerns about the content of the petition - please let me know as I am open to a conversation. I think it is unfortunate how misinformation is spread about people who are just trying to help make fellow citizens aware of important decisions being made that are time sensitive, and who want to help empower the people of Addison in regard to their assets and their voices. Thank you for your help in spreading the word and helping people to share their voice. It does make a difference.
Something else you could do to help - please reach out to one council person (or more) to share your concerns. https://www.addisontx.gov/Government/City-Council Thank you!