Residents oppose airport runway extension, Commission approves new environmental assessment

Ormond Beach Observer
News

The Ormond Beach Municipal Airport runway extension project took one step forward after the City Commission unanimously approved a work authorization at its meeting on Tuesday, June 1, for consultants to prepare a new environmental assessment, that will cost the city $45,000.

In 2018, the city received funding from the Federal Aviation Administration to complete an EA to extend the runway 1,000 feet to the west. Now that the city is planning for only a 600-foot extension in that direction, since staff was unable to procure easements for the original project, a supplemental assessment is needed.

The item was initially placed in the meeting’s consent agenda, which would have barred public comment, but Commissioner Rob Littleton pulled it and eight people spoke — five against and three for, though there were at least a dozen residents present that opposed the extension.

Pineland Trail resident Mike Rogers questioned why the FAA would decline to fund the SEA, when the agency funded the first one. He also referenced a recent email from the city’s consultants, Hoyle, Tanner and Associates, asking two environmental specialists to help them create justification for the SEA.

“Maybe it’s just me, but if your own consultants have a hard time justifying it, maybe you should consider not doing it at all,” Rogers said.

Rogers also brought up the 400-foot extension of the runway to the east, which is part of the same 2015 Airport Master Plan update option that includes the 600-foot extension to the west.

The city didn’t address whether this remains a future intent. Notably, the master plan update states the option “creates significant environmental impacts to the east of the airport and is the most expensive alternative,” then estimating costs at $6.5 million. An east extension would also require Airport Road to be realigned.

The commissioners did, however, clear up that commercial airliners would not use the airport, a rumor they said was spreading on social media. Commissioner Dwight Selby also said city staff should not be “attacked” over the extension.

“You’re just doing your jobs and for people to besmirch your reputations, it’s not appropriate,” Selby said.

Resident Mike Jiloty, a president of a local marketing consulting firm, said he could attest to the benefits of having an airport. In fact, Team Volusia actively promotes the Ormond airport, he said.

“It’s an important port of entry for our community and I think it will play an increasingly important role in the evolution of Ormond Beach,” Jiloty said

No hope for Union church building?

Though citizens continue to plead that the city reconsider demolishing the existing church building at 56 N. Beach St., it is unlikely the City Commission will reconsider it’s 3-2 vote to build a parking lot in its place.

At the commission meeting on Tuesday, June 1, Commissioner Dwight Selby asked City Attorney Randy Hayes what the protocol to reconsider the vote would be like. Seeing as he and Mayor Bill Partington both voted against the demolition, neither are allowed to bring the matter back up. The motion to reconsider would have to come from one of the yes votes: Commissioners Troy Kent, Rob Littleton and Susan Persis.

Hayes confirmed that, since a contractor has already been selected for the project, reversing the vote would complicate matters. Partington said the decision on the demolition has been made, but that the city should abide by the same building standards it requires and not construct a shell parking lot.