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Letter to L. Koshak Pa ¢e 2 <br />A major shortcoming of the draft master plan is the lack of quantitative <br />analysis regarding noise impacts. As you are aware, the Metropolitan Council <br />staff, as well as many citizens living near airports, is concerned about <br />controlling environmental degradation caused when land users in the vicinity <br />of an airport are adversely affected by the noise generated by airport <br />facilities. A major approach to enhancing land use compatibility has been to <br />control non-airport development in the vicinity of an airfield, but it may <br />sometimes be necessary to tailor development of an airport to minimize the <br />impacts on the surrounding community. The proposed improvements to Gateway <br />will require encroachment upon existing residential development, thus <br />increasing the likelihood of noise-related conflicts between the airport and <br />community. If, as stated in the draft master plan, it is expected that noise <br />levels will be well within Federal and State guidelines, documentation of <br />supporting such findings would help alleviate the concerns of the Council and <br />of the residents of the area surrounding Gateway. <br />The Council staff is also concerned about the cost effectiveness of the <br />proposed improvements. The lack of practical ability to further expand the <br />existing Gateway site, such as for construction of a cross-wind runway, limit <br />the potential of the facility for aviation purposes. The airport already abuts <br />existing development, and the expansion needed to make the proposed <br />improvements may exacerbate airport/community conflicts. Nearly 50 percent of <br />the total development costs of the proposed improvements would be needed for <br />property acquisition and relocation of existing roadways and utilities. The <br />needs of the aviation system and the City of Ramsey may be better met by <br />reconsidering alternative site locations for an airport that would have better <br />growth potential and fewer potential land use conflicts. <br />As I stated earlier, the Metropolitan Council will provide further comments on <br />the draft Gateway North Industrial Airport Master Plan at its meeting on August <br />22. I hope that these staff level comments will be of value to you until the <br />formal review is conducted. If you have any questions, please call me at 291- <br />6344. <br />Sincerely, ~ <br />c`~ ~'~~~ <br />~-~ ~ <br />Stephen C. Wilson <br />Transportation Planner <br />SCW:gw <br />cc: Harry Nemec <br />