Stephanie Addenbrooke Photo
Larson: Modernization, not expansion.
City and Tweed-New Haven Airport officials pitched plane-weary Morris Cove neighbors Wednesday night on a plan to pave another 1,500 feet of runway to boost air service into town — and received a ritual chorus of angry opposition from an overflow crowd.
“We don’t want it!” David Franco shouted across the room to airport Executive Director Tim Larson at a community meeting held at Tweed.
Asked if community members will get a say in the new plans, Larson did not provide a concrete answer.
At that point about half of the 100 neighbors present proceeded to leave, uttering words of disgust at the expansion and distrust of those running the airport.
But neighbors plan to be back — as early as Thursday night, when a second public meeting on the issue is scheduled. (The meeting, to begin at 6 p.m., may be moved to Nathan Hale School, 480 Townsend Ave., to accommodate the size of the crowd. Check the Tweed and city websites for updates.)
Conflict is nothing new between Morris Cove neighbors — many of whom resent having an airport in the neighborhood where they bought homes — and airport and city government and business leaders, who consider modernizing the airport an essential engine repair for New Haven’s economic growth. Civic leaders cast the neighborhood opposition as unreasonable NIMBYism that threatens the broader city’s economic interests; neighbors view officials’ plans as unfair intrusions on their quality of life backed by untrustworthy promises.
What is new, at least for the past year, is the latest plan: Officials said that in order to make the airport viable, and to stop bleeding taxpayers to support it, a 4,600-foot runway needs to extend to 6,100. To create the extended runway, officials want to pave the grassy area on each end with hopes of convincing airlines to fly more jets to New Haven.
And neighbors have a new objection to add to those they’ve voiced for decades: In 2009 the then-mayors of New Haven and East Haven (where much of the airport sits) signed an agreement to allow for some improvements in return for not paving that much more of the runway. Neighbors Wednesday night invoked that promise as a reason they won’t trust officials. (Click here for a report on officials’ previous attempt to convince neighbors about the plan, last June; and here for a report on how neighbors subsequently pressed state legislative candidates on the issue last October.)
Currently, American Airlines operates four flights a day to Philadelphia. Larson and the team at Tweed want to expand to 25 flights a day, introducing Chicago, Washington D.C. and Orlando as new destinations. Larson said that the growth in the area’s biotech industry and the draw of the local universities require better transportation service to attract future investors and businesses.
He said in order to meet new industry standards, Tweed seeks to pave over the current safety areas of grass at each end of the current runway — but not to expand the area of the airport itself.
To carry out the plan, officials would need to amend a state law, the Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Act, that was based on the 2009 mayoral agreement. That law states: “The airport shall not exceed the existing paved runway length of five thousand six hundred linear feet.”
Sean O’Brien, an organizer of a Voters Opposed to Tween Expansion (VOTE) campaign, handed out bright yellow flyers during the meeting pushing against the new plans. He said he was most concerned by the politicians “going back on their word,” a theme of the evening’s discussion. He cited previous meetings when Larson, among others, promised the community that they would not pave any more of the land.
“Promises have been made and broken,” said Susan Campion, a neighborhood activist.
New Haven Mayor Toni Harp introduced the meeting by describing the airport as “the backyard” for many of the residents who were present, which is why its future must be decided in a “responsible way.” She argued, for the airport to be viable it must change to accommodate changing times.
As part of a question and answer session, Claudia Bosch (pictured) presented data demonstrating the decline of municipal airports across the state. She questioned figures suggesting that the “catchment” area for Tweed would be 1.4 million residents after the expansion.
“This is a multi-airport region,” she said, in which there are many local airports are closing or downsizing services. “How is New Haven going to buck the trend?”
City development chief Matthew Nemerson,at right, consults with neighbors.
Others questioned the need for the expansion given Gov. Malloy’s plans to improve rail services to Hartford and Springfield, along the route toward Bradley Airport.
Bosch’s young son, Lucas, raised his own concern that the wetlands would not be adequately looked after, opening the evening’s dialogue with environmental concerns. The room was silenced when one resident asked about how the plans were accommodating predicted rising sea levels in East Haven. Other neighbors said planes’ diesel fuels are affecting their own health, in addition to the health of the environment.
Neighbor Ruth Olson complained about noise pollution, even though there are plans to help soundproof the houses directly surrounding the airport.
Larson expressed confidence that the airport’s expansion would benefit local businesses, and provide more opportunities for travel.
“We think we can provide a great service at a great airport,” he said.
John Picard, chairman of the Tweed New Haven Airport Authority, adjourned the meeting after neighbors pressed Mayor Harp (pictured) to answer more questions about the planned expansion. Harp promptly left.
“Mayor, speak!” remaining residents briefly chanted.
Olson called Harp’s abrupt departure a disappointment. She said she plans to return to the second meeting Thursday night, where she hopes Harp will field questions.