Draft Report Eyes Airport

An Early Look at Project Plans Sees No Environmental Hurdle to
Runway Improvements, New Terminal, Jail

By ALEXIS TONTI

The Martha's Vineyard Airport commissioners this week
previewed a document that will be critical to the approval, by both
state and federal officials, of long-range plans for development at the
airport and on its surrounding property.

Still in rough form, the draft environmental impact report (DEIR)
and environmental assessment suggests there will be few roadblocks on
that score to completing the airport's capital improvement program
by 2010 and constructing a new county jail on airport property.

The commissioners received the report at their regular meeting
Wednesday night. The lengthy document arrived in a binder the size of a
telephone book and will expand with the addition of several more
studies, including an assessment of wastewater and water supply issues.

The DEIR is being completed by Hoyle, Tanner and Associates, the
consultant group that conducted the airport master plan.

The report uses detailed studies of issues such as noise, traffic
and air quality to assess the cumulative effect of all proposed
development at the airport through 2010. The 14-item project list
includes runway improvements, a new main passenger terminal and the
construction of a fire fighting training facility and county jail.

The project list is a consolidated version of the capital
improvement program outlined in the airport master plan, adopted by the
airport commissioners in December 2002.

Airport manager Bill Weibrecht said yesterday the commissioners will
review the DEIR over the next few months, before approving it for
submission to the state.

They plan to file the report with the secretary of the executive
office of environmental affairs April 15.

The state must review the report before it can sign off on the
capital improvement project or consider releasing airport land for
nonaviation purposes. During its review, the state also can flag any
part of the report for further study.

One land use alternative that has long been a source of contention
is a new county jail. The proposed site sits on roughly seven acres in
the southwest quadrant of the airport property, near the Hot Tin Roof.

The DEIR notes specifically that it addresses issues triggered by
the development of land for a jail, rather than issues related to the
design of the jail itself.

It takes a look at the "big picture" impacts of the
county jail - such as traffic and wastewater demand - but
does not address issues of architectural style, building materials and
design configuration on the property.

The report puts the onus on the airport commission and the county
sheriff to address those issues as project planning moves forward. It
also notes that the project cannot be pursued until Island residents
have the opportunity to voice their opinions.

In conducting its impact studies, the DEIR assumes a "future
build scenario," six years from now, in which the capital
improvement program has been completed.

The report envisions that the business park is built out, having
developed an additional 20,500 square feet of land for mixed commercial
and industrial use. Along the existing airport access road will be
another 12,000 square feet of mixed office and retail. The connector
road will be in place, linking Airport Road to the business park and
allowing for 10,000 square feet of development. And finally, Airline
Road will be built in the business park, attracting a cargo
consolidation center of roughly 15,000 square feet and hangar
development.

The DEIR suggests the 14 projects will have a minor impact on
traffic and the operation of nearby intersections. In the peak summer
months it projects an additional 794 cars will be traveling in the area
per day, and 85 per hour.

But the report also suggests measures to mitigate the increased
flow, including the addition of separate right and left turn lanes on
both Airport Road and Barnes Road, where they meet the Edgartown-West
Tisbury Road. It also notes that construction of a road connecting
Airport Road to the business park - part of the project plan
- will lessen congestion.

The noise study concluded that the airport property, beyond the area
immediately surrounding the runways, falls within a 65 decibel daily
noise level - the benchmark level compatible with residential land
use, as defined by the FAA and the department of housing and urban
development.

The rare species surveys found several sensitive sandplain and
grassland species, including the barrens black moth, blue-eyed grass and
purple needlegrass, all of which can be treated sensitively with
appropriate measures.

Mr. Weibrecht said given the current time line of review and
approval, he hopes to begin the first projects in early 2005. Topping
the list are improvements to one of the airplane taxiways; construction
of the southeast ramp (where aircraft park), and construction of Airline
Road.