Airport extension angers locals

Residents' concerns dominated a public workshop Ohio State held Thursday evening about the Don Scott Field airport extension project.

The OSU airport's proposed master plan includes the expansion of the north runway from 3,000 to 6,000 feet, the development of the south and north hanger and a new flight education center.

The workshop was held at an elementary school across the street from Don Scott airport where William Baeslack, dean of the college of engineering at OSU, explained the preliminary environmental assessment on the proposed project.

OSU hired environmental consultants more than a year ago to analyze, among other things, current noise levels produced by the airport and the predicted future noise levels if expansions are made.

This was an informal meeting OSU voluntarily set up to have an open discourse on the matter, Baeslack said.

The airport is surrounded by the suburbs of northern Columbus on West Case Road, and more than 100 area residents were present for a question-and-answer session regarding the extensions.

As reported in The Lantern on Sept. 20, area residents are upset with current noise levels and believe that possible future expansion of the airport will only increase noise levels.

The current environmental studies show the average noise levels are within the range of current regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration, and that the future expansion project will also stay within this range.

"We have for 20 years battled with Ohio State over Don Scott. The planes continue to come in knocking the leaves off of trees (and) shattering any aspect of conversation," said Mary Jo Cusack, mayor of Riverlea, a village of about 500 residents surrounded by Worthington.

Cusack requested that Baeslack release information on specific noise levels on single incidents.

"(The average) doesn't mean (anything), because the single jets that are coming over Riverlea and other areas in the vicinity are so loud," Cusack said.

"Even without expansion the present level of activity in and out of that airport is incompatible with the character of the surrounding communities and especially historical significant communities like Worthington and Dublin," said Angelica Durbess, another concerned resident.

Baeslack said the current location of the airport is convenient for the students that have to commute from the OSU campus to the airport to take classes. 

The FAA will have to decide if the expansion will be possible in this area, said Douglas Hammon, director of the airport.

The FAA response is crucial to this process, Baeslack said.

"Many of the improvement funds, especially those that deal with the runway, are funded primarily by the FAA. Ohio State does not pay for all these improvements," Baeslack said.

If the expansion plan is approved by the FAA, it would then be up to OSU to make the final decision whether or not to go through with the project, an FAA representative said.

In February, the college of engineering will make a formal presentation and recommendation regarding the master plan to OSU's Board of Trustees. In March, the Board of Trustees is likely to vote on the master plan, and sometime between next spring and summer the FAA will announce their response on the environmental assessment, Baeslack said.