Not time for a Vision

1) Republic is extending an olive branch (Were was that olive branch for the last ten years?)

2) come up with a vision for the airport's future (were is the Master Plan?)

3) Finally, our elected officials should be talking to Republic Airport because there's a lot going on there, and they should be taking an interest on the public's behalf. (its the airport who has no interest in the Public)

4) set aside their legal weapons ( OK lets rollover a play dead!!)

Time for a new vision for Republic AirportSeptember 14, 2008
Driving along Route 110 in East Farmingdale, you might not notice that behind the State Police barracks and a jumble of shops is one of the state's largest general aviation airports. It's home to a popular flight school, two-seater propeller planes and small corporate jets - but not commercial flights.

Passersby may ignore it, but neighbors certainly don't. For years, Republic Airport and members of the nearby community have been locked in one bitter dispute after another over the airport's operation, construction projects and efforts to dictate surrounding development.

Now, however, Republic is extending an olive branch. It's asking civic groups, neighbors and elected officials to help come up with a vision for the airport's future. Nobody has to leave their suspicions at the door. But interested parties should at least walk through the door and restart the discussion.

To paraphrase Lyle Lovett, where would you be if you didn't try? You gotta try.

One reason is that the airport brings economic development potential to the Route 110 corridor. Companies may not be flying as much now, with fuel prices so high, but they will again.

Another reason the community should engage with Republic is that the state-owned airport controls 25 acres nearby that it can't develop for aviation. Much of that could be used for the Route 110 corridor plan developed by Town Supervisors Steve Bellone (Babylon) and Frank Petrone (Huntington). One smart use for 12 of those acres would be reopening the Republic Station stop of the Long Island Rail Road.

Finally, our elected officials should be talking to Republic Airport because there's a lot going on there, and they should be taking an interest on the public's behalf.

To comply with Federal Aviation Administration safety rules, Republic is tearing down a hangar, installing end-of-runway barriers and applying for federal funds to move Taxiway B, or Bravo.

Meanwhile, one of the jet operators, Holland SheltAir Aviation Group, is working on an environmental impact statement to build as many as seven new hangars, an office building and a small maintenance facility. That amount of construction is a maximum and could shrink. But it represents a potential jump to 65 SheltAir jets from 15.

Republic Airport has hired DY Consultants, a planning and engineering firm based in Roslyn Heights, to conduct this "visioning process." Aviation businesses, neighbors, elected officials - all are invited. Dates will be set when the contract with DY Consultants is approved by the state comptroller's office.

Airport officials say they don't need to conduct this outreach effort to continue work at Republic. But it's a good bet that better community relations would be cheaper. The airport is supposed to be financially self-sustaining. At the moment, retailer Stew Leonard's is still pursuing a lawsuit against Republic for blocking a grocery store off the end of one runway. And the Town of Babylon has just won a temporary restraining order on further construction of Taxiway Bravo.

Clearly, local officials have some leverage. Bellone and Petrone both say they want a master plan - which the airport has resisted to date. Such a plan could grow from the visioning process, but it would add specifics.