J W W W . F O N S B A .C O M
J RECENT NEWS
January 9, 10 BalloonFest Announced: The first annual New Smyrna Beach BalloonFest is planned at our airport for the weekend of January 9 and 10. Starting at 5:00 PM on Friday January 9 we'll be treated to a spectacular sunset Balloon Glow. Shortly after dawn on Saturday January 10 (6:19 AM) the balloons will lift off (weather permitting) en masse, in a colorful ascension of designs and hues. Attendees are then welcome to drive around the field to American Aero to observe the historic World War II aircraft preparing to depart on their year's tour itinerary, which include a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell, and P-51 Mustang . Entrance to all events is free.
Commission Votes To Put Rwy. 2/20 Resurfacing Project On Fast Track: During the 12/18/2008 Commission meeting, FONSBA requested that the following resolution be adopted: We direct City Management to apply for an FDOT grant to re-surface the 4,001 feet of runway 2/20, as quickly as is reasonably possible. The Commission unanimously voted to expedite attempts to procure funds for the Rwy. 2/20 Resurfacing Project, not only with the FDOT but also pursue possibilities with the FAA and the upcoming federal economic stimulus package. Thank you, City Commission!
Commission Nixes Landing Fee Study: On 12/16/2008 the City Commission voted overwhelmingly to defer any study regarding landing fees, at least until after the Part 150 noise study is completed. The vote was 4 - 1 against, with only Mayor MacKay voting for the study. The meeting was attended by an estimated 40 airport supporters (most sporting FONSBA nametags), and maybe 60 noise complainers. FONSBA VP Arlen Stauffer, Exec Board members Mary Lightfine and Robert Tetrault, AAB Chairman Robert Perry, an Epic Aviation flight instructor, and yours truly were among those arguing against the study and against landing fees in general.
Commissioner Richenberg expressed the view that before he voted to spend any money on a landing fee study, he wanted to see if there actually is a noise problem at NSB airport, and would want to get more information about such a study, including the cost. Commissioner Grasty likewise thought a landing fee study would be premature at this point, without the results of the Part 150 study in. Commissioner Hathaway added that a landing fee study could be re-addressed after the Part 150 noise study is complete, and may or may not be approved at that time depending on the circumstances. Thanks to all the airport supporters who attended the meeting, and helped the City Commission reject a landing fee study! The Commission's decision constitutes an early Christmas present for our airport.
Airport Advisory Board Meeting: During the 10/2/2008 Airport Advisory Board meeting Rhonda Walker briefed the AAB on projects status - the re-surfacing of the Rwy. 7/25 ends should be complete by 11/7/08, and hangar inspections are scheduled for January 08. Ron Seymour of ESA gave a report on his firm's progress on the Part 150 noise study - it's proceeding on schedule.
After the meeting I had the opportunity of talking with Brian Pendleton, one of our airport consultants. He expressed opposition to unnecessary shortening of Rwy. 2/20, as well as support for finding funds sources to re-surface it. The last we've heard regarding the movement to shorten Rwy. 2/20 was that the AAB may take the matter up next month, and the City Commission thereafter - stay tuned! Paul Rooy
9/24/2008 CITY COMISSION MEETING
The 9/24/2008 City Commission meeting was a limited defeat (or a limited victory, depending on one's viewpoint) for FONSBA. The meeting was attended by some 50 FONSBA members, many of which made individual presentations. Petitions against Prop HL were also presented. Bob Perry of the Airport Advisory Board spoke against the development. FONSBA's counsel Chris Challis argued eloquently against the development.
Although the City approved the development amendment and annexation for transmittal to the State, significant conditions were imposed, including any construction within the Rwy. 20 Departure RPZ would have to be pre-approved by the FAA, notice to buyers of the airport's existence, avigation easements, and structure sound-proofing.
The most positive moments were the expressions of support for the airport, and rejection of any shortening of Rwy. 20, by the Mayor, the Vice-Mayor, and Commsrs. Plaskett and Grasty. Given that one of our top priorities is keeping all our runways open, unshortened, this represents a victory for FONSBA's efforts to raise the awareness of our elected leadership and of the public about the importance of the airport, and the importance of not closing any part of it. This bolsters our chances of success in fighting our next major threat: the proposed shortening of Rwy. 20.
Thanks to everyone for the great support last night!!
Paul
City Changes Hearing Dates: The City has changed the dates for considering shortening Rwy. 2/20 and Prop HL. The new date for Prop HL is unknown (but no longer on the 8/26/08 agenda).
August 26, 2008 6:30 PM - City Commission meeting. 200 Canal Street, 3d floor. Runway 2/20 NOT on agenda.
FONSBA Advocates 2/20 Non-Shortening to City. During recent weeks FONSBA presented to City officials our strong recommendation to not shorten Rwy. 2/20. FONSBA President Paul Rooy presented the FONSBA position paper Preserve Our Airport: Do Not Shorten or Close Runway 2/20; FONSBA consultant Dr. Seth Young presented his research paper Evaluation of the RWY 20 Departure RPZ and Potential Effects of Reducing the Useable Length of RWY 2/20 at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.
We also distributed copies of our 100+ page book, PRESERVE OUR AIRPORT - Do Not Shorten or Close Runway 2/20, containing these papers and other sections including:
* 4 Resolutions against shortening Rwy. 2/20: Resolutions against shortening by the AAB, the Noise Abatement Committee, NSBAirportNoise, Inc., and FONSBA.
* 3 petitions against shortening, and/or requesting continued maintenance of all our runways, containing a cumulative total of 1,300+ signatures.
* 32 letters against shortening.
* Extensive supporting materials.
FONSBA Advocates Against Incompatible Housing. FONSBA also presented to City Officials the FONSBA position paper against more than tripling the current housing density zoning at the Prop HL, and presented the FONSBA position paper Preserve Our Airport: Do Not Approve the Proposed Hidden Lakes Development as part of FONSBA’s 50+ page book which also contained resolutions against Prop HL by the AAB and FONSBA, and two petitions against Prop HL containing a cumulative total of 1,000+ signatures.
Airport Advisory Board Condemns Shortening Runway 2/20. During its 7/16/2008 meeting, the New Smyrna Beach Airport Advisory Board unanimously voted to oppose any shortening or closing of runway 2/20, observing that shortening the runway would negatively affect noise mitigation “spreading around” of traffic, and also negatively affect safety. The AAB went on to find that the Rwy. 20 departure RPZ in fact stretches south 1,000 feet from a line 200 feet south of the Rwy. 2/20 pavement, is properly located there, and that no need exists to relocate the RPZ, by declared distances or otherwise, as advocated by the Prop HL consultant.
1st FONSBA Fly-in Pancake Breakfast a Success! The breakfast netted FONSBA $400, good community relations, and around 10 people flew with Epic. Thanks to the many participants, and THANK YOU to the organizer, FONSBA Treasurer Mike Holoman.
Friends Of New Smyrna Beach Airport Inc. – NSB Airport Noise Inc. Alliance: In a historic first, at the 6/24/2008 City Commission meeting Randall Hitchcock (President - NSB Airport Noise Inc.), Randolph Crews (Vice-President - NSB Airport Noise Inc.), Paul Rooy (President - Friends Of New Smyrna Beach Airport Inc.) and Arlen Stauffer (Vice-President - Friends Of New Smyrna Beach Airport Inc.) stood shoulder-to-shoulder before the City Commissioners and voiced the common opposition of our organizations to any shortening or closing of runway 2/20. Then each organization presented a Resolution signed by all its officers in opposition to any shortening or closing of runway 2/20 to the City Commissioners. Finally, Arlen Stauffer pointed out that the only reason for considering any action regarding runway 2/20 is due to Prop HL, and that the Prop HL developer has hired an FAA retiree to lobby the City Commission to shorten the runway. City Manager John Hagood admitted that Prop HL had triggered the City's action of considering changing runway 2/20. Given this fact, Arlen requested on behalf of both Friends Of New Smyrna Beach Airport, Inc. and NSB Airport Noise, Inc. that the City defer any consideration of shortening or closing runway 2/20 until after deciding whether to approve or reject Prop HL. No decision to delay consideration of runway 2/20 was reached by the Commissioners, but the City Commission is now aware of the united opposition to any shortening or closing of this public runway by both organizations, and that the only beneficiary of such action appears to be a single development - Prop HL.
Developer Attacks Airport. Not content with attempting to fit 132 houses ½ a mile off the end of New Smyrna Beach Airport’s runway 20, the developer pushing the proposed Hidden Lakes development (“Prop. HL”) is frontally attacking the airport by trying to close part of it. FONSBA’s 5/12/2008 Letter explains why the only apparent beneficiary of lopping off almost 800 feet of this public runway is the Prop. HL developer.
Friends Of New Smyrna Beach Airport, Inc. to Vigorously Oppose Any Shortening of Public Runway 2/20 To Benefit a Single Development. FONSBA observes that closing the southern 785 feet of Runway 2/20 would: 1. Decrease the safety of residents, passengers and pilots; 2. Increase community noise from the east-west runways; 3. Impact our City’s economic viability; and 4. Increase jet fuel waste and pollution. If Prop. HL were compatible with our airport, it wouldn’t require closing part of the airport to increase its chances of approval.
City Commission Commits to Not Permit Any Runway Shortening Without Its Say-So. During the 5/13/2008 City Commission meeting, FONSBA Veep Dr. Arlen Stauffer secured the commitment of the City Commissioners to not permit any shortening or closing of runway 2/20 without the Commission’s authorization following a properly-noticed, agenda’d public discussion of the issue during a City Commission meeting. Good job, Arlen!
Noise Abatement Committee Condemns Shortening Runway 2/20. During its 6/12/2008 meeting, the New Smyrna Beach Airport Noise Abatement Committee unanimously voted to oppose any shortening or closing of runway 2/20, observing that shortening the runway would further disproportionately concentrate noise to the East and West of the airport.
Petition to Keep New Smyrna Beach Airport Runway 2/20 Open and Unshortened has already garnered hundreds of signatures – support our public airport by e-signing today!
Hidden Lakes Development (“Prop. HL”) Objected to by State, Feds, Others. The following authorities and groups object to Prop. HL on the grounds that it is incompatible with our airport due to safety and/or noise reasons:
Florida Department of Community Affairs
Florida Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
New Smyrna Beach Airport Advisory Board
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Friends Of New Smyrna Beach Airport, Inc.
A Petition signed by 721 airport supporters opposing Prop. HL as incompatible with the airport and requesting that it not be permitted was submitted to the NSB City Counsel on 4/8/2008.
A Petition signed by 132 airport workers and their families opposing Prop. HL as incompatible with the airport and requesting that it not be permitted was submitted to the NSB City Counsel on 4/8/2008.
100% of the 4/28/2008 Airport Users Meeting user attendees voted they are strongly against any shortening of runway 2/20, and that they use runway 2/20 “a lot”. Tower Chief Dobelaar estimated 30% of our airport’s flights either land or take off from runway 2/20 – the last Airport Master Plan Update puts the number at 32.5%.
A Petition to Keep New Smyrna Beach Airport Runway 2/20 Open and Unshortened has already garnered hundreds of signatures – support our public airport by e-signing today!
FRIENDS OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH AIRPORT INC. (FONSBA):
Friends of New Smyrna Beach Airport Inc. (FONSBA):
Is an organization founded by a group of concerned citizens whose sole interest is to protect, preserve, promote and improve The New Smyrna Beach Airport in Volusia County, Florida. Paul Rooy, President, Arlen Stauffer, Vice President, Glen Wade, Secretary and Mike Holoman, Treasurer welcome you to this site.
For more information contact us at FONSBA with one click.
Or write us at: FONSBA, 333 South Street, New Smyrna, FL 32168
Thanks for visiting The Friends of New Smyrna Beach Airport Inc.