>> BALDWIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Plans to construct two hangars at the Baldwin County Regional Airport have been put on hold indefinitely by the state’s transportation agency.
Baldwin County Manager Carlos Tobar received a letter from the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) last Friday that effectively stopped work on the proposed airport hangar site across from the Lakeshore Circle neighborhood.
That project sparked vocal and organized opposition from nearby residents, who have asserted they were unaware of the plans until most of the trees on the airport adjacent to Lakeshore Circle were cut. The site work by the county would be to prepare for the construction of two hangars on what is referred to as the east apron. They would be 100 by 90 feet, one 30 feet in height, the other 20 feet. The cost of the hangars would be borne by a private entity, which would lease the ground space from the county.
Tobar said Monday that the letter signed by GDOT Aviation Programs Manager Steven Brian was received via email and addressed environmental concerns.
“The decision-making process for airport projects must consider the environmental, social, economic, and technical factors of a proposed action (and any reasonable alternatives) that meet the purpose and need,” the letter states in part.
“The (county’s) purpose and need,” Brian writes, “appears to be to construct additional hangers to meet the near-term demand for those spaces on your airport.”
The letter also affects another endeavor, the “lower ramp” expansion project on the west end of the airport, and both areas will be subject to an Environmental Assessment (EA). The letter also indicates GDOT is recommending public input.
“We would also recommend a public involvement task in the EA to ensure the public is advised on the development and the potential impacts/mitigations if determined by the environmental process.”
Tobar said Tuesday morning he was not particularly surprised by the letter.
“Citizens expressed concerns to the commissioners and GDOT,” he said. “We submitted the complaints we gathered from meeting. Talked about them with GDOT in our meetings from two weeks ago and early last week. GDOT staff said they would talk.”
The county manager also said there is no problem between the state and county agencies.
“GDOT is a terrific partner, and our environmental consultants, myself, and GDOT environmentalists have discussed a path forward. The letter reflects that.”
Tobar explained that normally environmental assessments are potentially a three-step process. First, he said, the county will submit a Category Exclusion (CE) form, which consists of several questions to be checked yes or no. If GDOT has no objections, the project can proceed.
Should there be concerns, the county must go further.
“The second document is an environmental assessment (EA). We will prepare it and send it to them. They have to make a determination again. If there is a finding of no significant impact (FONSI), we get that,” Tobar explained.
“If there are findings of significant impact, GDOT will require an environmental impact statement,” he said, pointing out the GDOT is now requiring the second prong, the EA, on the east apron and lower west ramp projects.
Tobar said he has never been involved in a project that required the environmental impact statement. Those citizens’ complaints included attendance at two county commission meetings with approximately 10 speakers addressing board members each time. Personal meetings with various local and state officials, a letterwriting campaign, and even the placement of signs in yards followed. Members of the group contacted state legislators Senator Rick Williams and Representative Ken Vance as well as GDOT officials.