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City of Homer

Planning & Zoning        Telephone        (907) 235-3106

491 East Pioneer Avenue                    Fax                  (907) 235-3118

Homer, Alaska 99603-7645                E-mail             Planning@ci.homer.ak.us

                                                            Web Site          www.ci.homer.ak.us

M E M O R A N D U M       09-137

 

 

TO:                  MAYOR HORNADAY AND HOMER CITY COUNCIL

                        WALT WREDE, CITY MANAGER

 

FROM:            RICK ABBOUD, CITY PLANNER

 

DATE:            October 12, 2009

 

SUBJECT:      Ordinance 09-40(S), Homer Comprehensive Plan

 

RE:                  Chapter 5 recommendations

 

The Homer Advisory Planning Commission (HAPC) recognized that the version of the Comprehensive Plan currently being reviewed by the City Council does not incorporate their suggested revisions. Specifically, they unanimously agree that all reference to relocating the Homer Airport should be stricken. At the October 7th meeting of the HAPC, directions were given to forward the suggested revision.

 

Recommendation:

 

The Homer City Council adopt the following changes to Chapter 5 in the 2008 Homer Comprehensive Plan (delete strikethrough add underlined).

 

Chapter 5, Goal 1, Homer’s transportation system, including, streets, rails, docks and airport, should support future community economic and population growth.

 

Objective D: Work in concert with the State of Alaska to maintain and improve the Homer airport.

 

The Homer Airport is owned and operated by the State Department of Transportation, but the
City of Homer owns and operates the terminal building. The facility provides a 6,700-foot long by 150-foot wide asphalt runway and a 3,000 by 600-foot seaplane “runway” and base at nearby Beluga Lake. The airport is equipped with IFR (instrument flight) capability. The city is served by several scheduled and chartered aircraft services.

 

The Homer Airport Master Plan provides long-range goals for airport improvements. Current priorities include constructing parallel taxiways and expanding the south apron, replacing the rescue and fire fighting building, constructing a chemical storage building, and procuring a de-icing truck.

 

It is in the interest of the City of Homer to support a well maintained and improved airport facility. The airport and related support facilities amount to a vital economic engine that contributes to the local economy. Development decisions near the airport should take into account the externalities that exist with current and future operations.

 

 

Comments were received during the public process that advocated relocating the airport from Homer to a new location along the Sterling Highway between Homer and Anchor Point. The advantages of a relocated airport would include less noise pollution in Homer and a reduction in the (relatively low) danger of an aircraft crash into a house or other populated area. The disadvantages include the cost of constructing a new facility, moving the airport, and the additional travel time
and cost incurred by travelers who would need to travel farther from their home or other departure points in Homer.

 

The most expeditious way for an airport move to occur would be for Homer to assume ownership of the airport, raise the necessary funds and construct the new airport. If the airport remains a State facility, it is unlikely that an airport relocation project would rank high enough in the State’s view to cause it to happen within the timeframe of this plan. Since the Homer Airport is in good condition and meets current safety requirements, it would not garner enough points in ADOT&PF’s aviation project ranking system to be funded within the foreseeable future. The project would compete against numerous State-owned airports, particularly in the Bush, that are unpaved, too short, poorly oriented, and/or (in some cases) in locations that are subject to riparian erosion. For many remote Alaskan communities that are located off the roadway system, the community airstrip is the only reliable connection to the rest of the state. The State’s aviation funding program (the Aviation Improvement Program) gives priority to airports that provide a community’s primary link to the Outside. Considerable growth is occurring in the vicinity of the airport.

 

Implementation Plan

 

1.      Consider issues such as noise impacts and safety hazards in the permitting of new housing and development near the airport.

2.      During the zoning map amendment process discussed in the Land Use Section, consider the relationship of the airport and the surrounding development. Evaluate and amend the map accordingly. 

3.      The City of Homer will participate in planning activities and comment on plans involving the maintenance and improvement of the airport.

 

 

 

Attachments:

1.                  Staff Report 09-87

2.                  Excerpt from HAPC minutes of 10/7/09 meeting