Airport Master Plan October 1985 (2)

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Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities Area 300 Metro Square Building, 7th and Robert Streets St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 Tel. 612 291-6359/TDD 291-0904 DATE: August 5, 1985 T0: Metropolitan Systems Committee FROM: Steve Wilson, Transportation Department SUBJECT: Draft Gateway North Industrial Airport Master Plan, Referral File No. 12993-1, Council District 9 AUTHORITY TO REVIEW The Draft Airport Master Plan for Gateway North Industrial Airport has been prepared for the City of Ramsey, which will hold a public hearing on the document on August 21, 1985. The comments of the Metropolitan Council will be transmitted to the City of Ramsey for their consideration in the decision- making process. These comments are presently advisory only. If the proposed improvements to the airport are pursued, a comprehensive plan amendment, under - the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, would then be submitted to the Council. BACKGROUND Gateway North Airport was intially built in the early 1970's by a group of businessmen from the Anoka area, as part of an industrial park development in what was then the township of Ramsey. Much of the impetus for the airfield came from former users of another private landing strip in the vicinity that had been closed. The airport from its inception has been licensed as a private airport with the State of Minnesota. The 1978 Aviation Chapter of the Metropolitan Development Guide classifies Gateway North as privately-owned/public use minor airport within the Metropoli- tan Airports System. Neither the State Aviation System Plan nor the National Airports System Plan include Gateway at this time. During the period from 1977 to 1981 a series of studies conducted for Ramsey assessed the need for an upgraded facility. A first study concluded that development of a facility on the present site would be "very difficult, if not financially impractical". An analysis of two alternate sites identified a parcel of property owned by General Mills as a preferred location, and recommended that the City proceed with negotiations for site acquisition. Community response, among other reasons, contributed to the ultimate rejection of that site. Figure 1 depicts the locations of the existing and alternative sites considered. _ The current master plan study was begun in March, 1984 by the City of Ramsey with funds contributed by the City (20 percent) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division (80 percent). The scope of the study was