CANYON: Airport concerns remain

The recent article in the Coeur d'Alene Press noted that: "The Idaho Transportation Department, emergency responders, and law enforcement agencies, school district and the Lakes Highway District offered written support for the plan." I certainly did not see that in the agency letters! I saw the opposite.

For instance, in a five-page letter from the Idaho Transportation Department, dated Dec. 17, 2010, signed by William P. Stratham, Manager, Airport Planning and Development, several concerns were raised: "As you may remember, the City of Hayden has experienced, first hand, the effects of an aircraft crash in your community. An experimental aircraft, piloted by Kenneth Lien of Spokane, crashed at the Atlas Elementary School in August of 2008 and came to rest at the southeast corner of the school. No one on the ground was hurt, but the pilot died at the crash. This type of accident is very rare, but it does remind us that accidents do happen and our recommendation to restrict the density of development within an airport area of influence is based on real evidence, not just fears of what ‘might happen.'"

The letter further notes that "Our previous concerns remain valid from our perspective. Our additional comments are intended to aid in understanding the reasons for and sincerity of our concerns. Airports are a significant part of the Idaho and local economy and provide significant positive economic impact locally. In fact, the Coeur d'Alene Airport provides about $129,778,500 in total economic output annually to the local and state economies. Airports also represent significant public investment by our municipal governments over an extended time. Pilots as well as taxpayers have provided substantial support for many years and rightly have the expectations that their investment will be preserved for future use."

In the next paragraph: "The Hayden Canyon PUD has been under consideration for more than five years and the Division of Aeronautics is disappointed that effectively none of the comments, concerns, and potential repercussions have been effectively addressed or acknowledged during that time."

There's more of the same, too much to print here - (remember, five pages). Copies of this letter and other agency letters are available at the Hayden City Hall.

PHILIP A. CLEMENTS

Hayden