("Steven P. McNicoll" wrote)
How can it be considered a buffer if it is filled by houses, trees, etc?


(FCM) Flying Cloud Airport - south/west of Minneapolis - one of the Reliever
Airports for MSP.

Just got off the phone with Joe Harris - Airport Manager for both FCM and my
local airport ANE.

We talked about the story (2 years ago) in the Mpls Star-Tribune newspaper
about MAC's (Metropolitan Airport Commission) auctioning of (10?) homes next
to Flying Cloud Airport (FCM)

Homes were in the (1/2 mile long) "Runway Protection Area/Zone - B."
RPZ - "A" means clear of homes, structures, trees, etc.

Harris said FCM's "Clear Zone(?)" requirements come from a combination of
FAA,
MNDot, and the Twin Cities "Met(troplitan) Council" rules and regulations.
All overlapping.

MAC bought the homes in 2000 with an eye on future runway expansion.
(Putting people in those houses who can't complain in the future was one
goal - one family decided to stay put and did not sell to MAC.)

MAC auctioned off the houses in 2003. These were beautiful 1/2 acre,
3/4 acre, 1 acre, and some 2 acre lots... some homes with tennis courts.
Homes
were mostly 1960's style. One had a nice tennis court.

I was forbidden by my gal from bidding in 2003! Longer commute for her.
Drat. I would have come in too low anyway - homes went for 225K - 300+K. I
wanted the nice rambler on 2 (wooded!!) acres. Wanted it for 185K. Doh!

The new owners are not allowed to do any extra things to attract birds, have
bee hives, or grow tall trees, etc. Many property improvements need prior
approval from MAC, but MAC is flexible Joe Harris said.

BTW, MSP has Runway Protection Zone (issues) for it's 17/35 runway extension
project. It's called the Mall of America :-)


Montblack