THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 24, 1994 TAG: 9407210193
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 57 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LANE DEGREGORY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
THE THIRD TIME the people spoke, Dare County commissioners listened.
For the next five years, the county's elected governing board will not support expansion of the Outer Banks airport on Roanoke Island.
``You all have spoken tonight,'' Commissioner Sammy Smith said after a two-and-a-half hour public hearing which ended late Monday night. ``I hear what you say.''
From actor Andy Griffith to the local garden club president, the people made their voices heard over the past two years, trying to convince county leaders that they did not want the Outer Banks' primary airport - which taxpayers already subsidize with about $300,000 annually - to grow beyond its current boundaries.
Environmentalists worried about extending a runway far into the Croatan Sound. Homeowners feared jets flying low over their waterfront properties. And residents wondered just how big the barrier islands' tourism industry could grow without other infrastructures adapting.
During town meetings, a public hearing, and several informal land use plan discussions throughout the county, throngs of people turned out to tell county planners how they felt about future growth - and, specifically, the airport.
Then, at a commissioners' regular bi-monthly meeting July 5, Airport Authority Chairman Richard Mapp finally spoke up.
The public comment period for the day had closed. The planning board had just recommended that commissioners adopt a five-year land use plan which did not support expanding the airport. Mapp asked the commissioners to reject that sentence.
Instead, Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert V. Owens Jr. called another public hearing. More than 100 people turned out Monday night.
``If y'all are considering a convention center, you need an airport for that center,'' Colington Island resident David Lehr told the board. ``If this area has a future for economic development, believe me: The airport's going to be a part of that future.''
Elwood Brats disagreed. ``We'll have jets from Langley, Oceana, Cherry Point and other military bases shooting landings there all the time,'' he said. ``I strongly resent the fact that my tax dollar is being used to subsidize rich people for their play toys.''
About 30 people spoke during the impassioned hearing - 17 people in direct opposition to airport growth. Each time one of the overflow crowd encouraged limiting the airport's expansion, everyone but those people sitting in the front two rows stood and clapped loudly.
Four Airport Authority members, two airport employees and two of the Dare County Airport Authority's attorneys - from Elizabeth City - urged commissioners not to restrict the airport's ability to expand. Four other citizens just asked their elected officials to alter the land use plan's language, perhaps limiting only runway extensions.
Commissioners decided to go with the populace.
``An old timer once told me, `Boy, if you want to succeed in politics, always please 51 percent of the public,' '' Chairman Owens said. ``Tonight, I think 51 percent of you have spoken.''
In what Owens called ``the hardest decision I've ever had to make,'' he and his board voted 6-1 to keep the land use plan - and the airport - as is.
Commissioner Clarence Skinner disagreed.
``I listened to you very carefully tonight and I'm going to do exactly what the public wants to do when I make a decision,'' said Skinner, also a member of the airport authority. ``But I think a legal issue needs to be resolved.'' The airport authority, which was set up by the state, should not have its hands tied by the planning board, which is set up to serve the county, said Skinner.
``It's a dilemma - who should be telling whom to do what.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Expansion of the Dare County Regional Airport on the north end of
Roanoke Island is opposed in a new five-year land use plan.
KEYWORDS: DARE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
DARE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT
by CNB