Airport Master Plan October 1985

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7.0 ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANS 7.1 Site/Background Considerations The existing site is restricted on three sides by roads and is also restricted by railroad tracks to the south. Commercial -industrial development near the Runway 34 approach further restricts future airport development. Residential development has occurred to the north of Runway 16. A wetlands area and a sanitary landfill lie to the northeast of the Airport. The City has evaluated alternative sites for an airport within the City boundaries. In 1979, a study of the existing Gateway North site was made and the conclusions were that "serious ground space limitations made development difficult, if not financially impractical." The study further recommended an alternative site study to the present site. In 1980, a study was conducted entitled "Preliminary Site Selection for the Alternative Airport Site Study Phase I" and this report reviewed eight (8) alterna- tive layouts on two sites considered. The General Mills property was recommended as the site with the greatest flexibility for design of a facility. The General Mills property was studied in detail in a report entitled "Alter- native Airport Site Study Phase II Detailed Analysis of the General Mills Property Site". This study recommended the site for development of an airport facility. A public hearing was held by the City of Ramsey and residences were in opposition toward any airport development. The City council voted to close the issue of site selection by not proceeding with the project. Therefore, no other site in the Community is available for airport development, other than the existing site within its limitations. Since the City of Ramsey has previously reviewed alternative sites for airport development it was determined that this study should address improvement of Gateway North's facili- ties. Thus, the evaluation of alternatives is limited to the existing site. 7-1