Far 150 Planned Put on Hold - Buf for How Long?

Jan 11, 2001

Express-News: Metro and State
Airport noise plan silenced as study continues
By Patrick Driscoll
Express-News Staff Writer

After two years of work and hundreds of thousands of dollars spent, an updated airport noise-abatement plan has been put on hold so officials can digest public comments and do more research.

''We thought that there was a possibility that we rushed into it too hastily,'' said Jerry Rankin, noise-abatement officer for San Antonio international Airport. ''So we're just looking at it a little more in-depth, more than we've already done.''

That closer look could delay the plan until next summer.

The scrutiny includes additional review of 142 comments made at a public hearing two months ago, more than half from people who live in the Northern Hills neighborhood, which is under a proposed new flight path intended to reduce noise in other areas.

Officials say the path would lessen jet noise in neighborhoods closer to the airport while not significantly impacting Northern Hills, at least according to federal standards.

But Northern Hills residents fear they will hear more jet noise. And, because they would still be outside the airport's noise impact boundary, they wouldn't qualify for federal funds to help insulate their homes against the extra noise. Insulation can cost up to $25,000 per house. A pilot program is under way to insulate a handful of homes near the airport.

Some officials, such as Mayor Howard Peak, are listening.

Peak met with airport officials and other council members to discuss some of the concerns last month, as Northern Hills residents prepared to charter a bus and pack City Council chambers for a pending hearing. The issue was pulled from the council agenda.

Officials decided they need to take a closer look at the $400,000 plan, which the city has been working on since January 1999.

''We need to be very careful,'' Peak said. ''We can't compromise safety and we can't impose a new burden on somebody else to relieve someone else.''

The two council members on the airport noise-abatement committee, Tim Bannwolf and David Carpenter, could not be reached Thursday for comment.

Besides weighing public comments more closely, the airport plans to conduct noise tests to compare aircraft taking off in steep climbs vs. more level climbs to see how different areas are affected. Because the tests must be done on days with varying temperatures, it could be next summer before all the information is ready.

Northern Hills resident Mike Gallagher said he's pleased that more tests will be done. He long has complained that the proposed flight path toward Northern Hills would compromise safety.

Gallagher said the new path would require pilots to execute an awkward 15-degree turn to the right and, seconds later, make a 15-degree turn left. He also said the plan would cause delays because fast and slower aircraft would be mixed in a narrow corridor, and planes would be sent directly into Randolph AFB flight paths.

''Hopefully, they'll come to realize that the previous plan was very dangerous,'' Gallagher said.

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pdriscoll@express-news.net
12/07/2000

NH Should be Proud

It was the extra effort put in by the citizens and neighbors who took the time to go to the public hearing and speak out against this plan that got it stopped.
If you were one of the great people who showed up at Coker United Methodist Church and voiced your opinion, I want to personally thank you for doing that. A show of unity is what it took.

Never say ''You can't fight city hall.'' We just did, and I think our voice was heard.

THANKS TO YOU!