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Home > Blogs > Greene County News > Archives > 2009 > August > 05
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Plan outlines airport expansion options
BEAVERCREEK TWP., Greene County — Most of the interest in the Lewis A. Jackson Regional Airport is in the site’s potential.
The small collection of hangers and runways south of U.S. 35 was in the sights of Beavercreek and Xenia city officials last year when both proposed joint tax agreements with the township in order to bring services — water and sewer — to the property.
Officials from both municipalities hope to have their foot in the door when the property around the airport, now mostly farm fields, begins to develop. Thanks to a long-range plan for the facility presented to county commissioners, area officials will have a better idea about the future of the airport.
“Our county airport is strategically located. It’s a real jewel,” said Commissioner Rick Perales, after the plan was present in late July. “This gives us a foundation to work from.” Developed by University of Cincinnati master’s degree students for $15,000, the plan lays out a step-by-step agenda for expanding the size and scope of what is now a small commuter airport.
The Avionics and Knowledge-based Master Plan lays out a runway extension, research facilities and technology park, even a community center . “This plan is actually bigger than the airport at this point,” said Homer Smith, airport board member. “But the airport is going to expand and this makes it more compatible with the surroundings.”
The first step is to expand the runway another 500 feet to accommodate larger aircraft, something that may be difficult to do in a weak economy. “It’ll be difficult in this economy,” Smith admits, “for the FAA and the county. It’s probably not in the near term. I think in the five-year range we can get to the point to extend the runway.”
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