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<br />Desplt~ the closer proximity to homes, no quatitativeanalysis of airport noise <br />was.included in the master plan. Therefore, consistency with Aviation Policy <br />#4 and #6 can not be determined. These policies, along with the increasing <br />awareness of airport noise in the region and several comments expressed at <br />public meetings in the City of Ramsey indicate the importance of thoroughly <br />considering noise impacts when planning airport improvements. The encroachment <br />upon the residential area would increase the likelihood of noise-related . <br />conflicts between the airport and community. If, as stated in the draft Master <br />Plan, it is expected that noise levels will be well within Federal and State <br />standards, documentation of supporting such findings would help alleviate the <br />concerns of the Council and of the residents of the area surrounding Gateway. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-Cost Effectiveness <br /> <br />The airport site is surrounded by roadways, wetlands, a landfill and developed <br />areas which will preclude future expansion of the airport. The improved <br />airport, while meeting Federal and State guidelines for a basic utility <br />airport, will lack a crosswind runwaY and therefore have less wind coverage <br />(90.3 percent) than the existing facility (99.1 percent). The above <br />discussion of environmental concerns also indicates potential constraints to <br />the effectiveness and deSirability of an improved facility at that location. <br />In addition, nearly 50 percent of the total development costs of the proposed <br />improvements would be needed for property acquisition and relocation of <br />existing roadways and utilities. In other words, the investment proposed for <br />the Gateway North airport will be made toward a facility with substantial site- <br />related limitations. <br /> <br />Tradeoffs exist among community acceptance, environmental compatibility, . <br />aviation improvements and cost that may yield a more cost effective solution to <br />the desire for an improved airport in Ramsey. Previous study of alternative <br />sites yielded a potential location (the General Mills site) that would not have <br />such limitations. The needs of the aviation system and the City of Ramsey may <br />be better met by reconsidering alternative site locations for an airport that <br />would have better growth potential and fewer potential land use conflicts. The <br />City of Ramsey may wish to further consider alternative airport sites and the <br />previous reasons for not pursuing those options, and determine whether the <br />proposed improvements at the existing site alleviate concerns expressed about <br />the other sites. <br /> <br />Aviation Forecasts <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />New forecasts of regional aviation demand have been prepared as part of the <br />l1etropolitan Council-' s update. of its Aviation Policy Plan. These forecasts <br />were not available at the time the Gateway North Airport Master Plan was being <br />prepared. The updated regional forecasts show potentially significant <br />differences in aviation growth compared to those used in the draft master plan. <br /> <br />The forecasts used in the draft Gateway master plan are significantly higher <br />than those for the region. The draft master plan assumes growth from 23 to 52 <br />based aircraft (mid-range estimate) between 1982 and 2005, or an annual average <br />increase of 3.6 percent -- over four times greater than the regional forecast <br />of 0.78 percent per year during a comparable time period. Aircraft operations <br />are also high compared to the regional forecast. The master plan data yield an <br />average annual growth of 2.0 percent, compared to the 1.6 percent annual <br />increase foreca.st for the Region. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />4 <br />