Airport Master Plan October 1985 (2)

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i Although it is expected that population and employment growth in the northwest portion of the region will exceed that of the region as a whole, the ~ forecasts appear to be high. In addition, programmed improvements to Anoka County-Blaine Airport will result in capacity improvements at that airport that will compete with Gateway for the expected growth. Such potential over-estimation of facility use may affect the benefit/cost considerations for the City of Ramsey by overstating the economic benefits and underestimating the necessary subsidies. - Relationship to Search Area "A" The current Aviation Policy Plan, as well as two of the alternatives being considered in the policy plan update, identifies a need for a new general aviation airport in western Hennepin County (Figure 3). The proposed Gateway North Airport improvements would likely neither conflict with, nor be capable of substituting for, an airport in Search Area "A" for the following reasons: o The major portion of the service area for Gateway North is from the north and east of the facility due to limited highway access from Hennepin County; o A primary factor for implementing a Search Area "A" airport would be its ability to satisfy excess demand from the south and west portion of Hennepin County; o The scale of improvements proposed at Gateway (size and number of runways) • are incapable of adequately aceomodating the same level of demand expected ~ at a Search Area "A" airport. - Comprehensive Planning According to Ramsey's Comprehensive Plan, the airport site, and most of the area proposed to be added for expansion, is planned and zoned for industial use. In addition, the city's Plan correctly states that any expansion of the airport site will require submitting a plan amendment, as provided for in the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, for review relative to Council plans and policies. Since Gateway North Airport is located in the city of Ramsey's rural service area, no urban services (such as sanitary sewers are planned to be provided in the near future. The airport and its expansion is consistent with Metropolitan Development Framework policies encouraging general aviation airports to support and enhance Freestanding Growth Centers by locating nearby. FINDINGS AI1D CONCLUSIGNS No quantitative noise analysis was conducted for the airport master plan •_ study. Such analysis is needed for the Metropolitan Council to determine the consistency of the proposed improvements with its environmental and land use compatibility policies. Although the master plan states that noise levels will __ be within allowable levels, documentation of such findings would alleviate the concerns of the Council and citizens expressing concerns about noise.