Airport panel discusses future

Residents complain regularly about noise from airplanes landing and taking off from Minden-Tahoe Airport, just one of the challenges as aviation meets residential development in Carson Valley, said John Marsalis, a member of the Airport Advisory Committee.

"We're very worried about the future. If development keeps up, this airport is gone," he said. "We hear some very strong opinions. As we grow, we have to do more to protect the airport or eventually we'll lose it."

Planning commission members and the board met to discuss airport issues and challenges Tuesday, including recommendations for aviation easements.

Grants from the Federal Aviation Administration needed to maintain and improve Minden-Tahoe Airport are shrinking at a time when development is encroaching and airport noise is a major issue, particularly for residents in the Johnson Lane and Stephanie Way areas near the flight path.

Air traffic is diverted to less-populated areas of Carson Valley but the complaints persist, Marsalis said.

"The last time I talked to people in north Johnson Lane the house was packed," he said. "I was glad to get out alive."

To ease the problems, he advocates preserving as much open space as possible.

"It benefits all of us," he said. "So many people don't realize, even though we discuss it with them, how critical the airport really is for us in an emergency."

The airport's fire tanker base provides time-saving access when wildfires threaten. If this airport is gone, fire tankers must refuel at the Stead facility about 20 minutes by air to the north, Marsalis said.

"When fighting a fire, five minutes can be critical," he said.

Mimi Moss, Douglas County's assistant community development director/planning manager, said county officials field a lot of complaints concerning noise from planes. Easements for airport operations do exist for both Saratoga Springs and Wildhorse residential developments, but some homeowners in the flight path aren't aware of the potential problem.

"We didn't jump on the problem when the airport's master plan was adopted in 1993," she told the two commissions. "We'd like to get some clear direction from you, as to what you'd like to see incorporated into the master plan so the message is strong, whether it's in Douglas County's development code or elsewhere."

Airport Manager Jim Braswell said the airport's original master plan delineates those areas subject to more noise from takeoff and landings, but those zones have changed over time.

Airport commission member Mike Bradford said noise is the primary concern for residents.

"They're also concerned about altitude, but the first is noise," he said. "It's important, for us to understand residents concerns."

Much of the property surrounding the airport is zoned agricultural or forest and range with 19-acre parcels, the preferred type of zoning around the airport. The exception is the receiving area just east of the airport, owned by Douglas County resident Don Bently, Moss said.

"We've had discussions on moving the receiving area to a more appropriate areas, but we haven't been successful," Moss said.

In these circumstances, property owners prefer to keep their options open, said Planning Commission Chairman Nancy McDermid.

"The planning staff would like to make some changes, but without the cooperation of the property owner our hands our tied," she said. "We can approach and suggest, but we usually leave with our hat in hand."

Planning commission members and the board met to discuss a host of other issues, including the following:

n Minden-Tahoe Airport officials will receive $328,000 in Federal Aviation Administration grants to conduct their airport master plan review, aided by consultants Barnard Dunkelberg & Co. The review is expected to take between 18 months and two years.

n A residential development catering to pilots would access airport runways with a taxiway is being considered along the southeast corner of the facility.

This type of user would encourage a less commercial type of aviation and these are the kind of homeowners that wouldn't complain about the noise, Marsalis said.

"It would be a great advantage with respect to land use for the airport," he said.

n Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.