Timeline revised for consideration of proposed Airport Master Plan

COLUMBUS – The Ohio State University has revised the timeline for consideration of the proposed draft Airport Master Plan to accommodate public concern regarding a comment period during the holidays, as well as the likelihood that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could provide its input later than initially expected.

A major part of the University’s review of the Plan is an Environmental Assessment and associated Aircraft Noise Study being performed in conjunction with the possible Airport improvements included in the proposed Plan.

At a public meeting the University held Oct. 14 on the assessment and the noise study, which are still in the draft stage, some community members expressed a concern that the public comment period would occur during the holidays.

William A. Baeslack III, dean of the College of Engineering, said the University will not make a decision on the Plan or proposed improvements without adequate and informed community input. “We certainly welcome public input at any time in the process, and indeed are carefully evaluating community comments to date,” Baeslack said.

Baeslack said the timeline was revised to give the University the opportunity to receive comments from the FAA, complete an internal review and make the revisions to the Assessment prior to the public comment period.

He said the revised timeline is based on the assumption that the University would receive the FAA’s comments on the Environmental Assessment and the associated Aircraft Noise Study on Nov. 1. The University would then revise the Assessment based on the FAA’s comments by Dec. 31, and then release it to the public for the required 30-day comment period on Jan. 3, 2005.
The University would hold a public hearing on the revised Assessment as required by the FAA on Jan. 25, 2005, and the public comment period would end on Feb. 2, 2005.

“It is expected that we all should be in a better position to discuss the Environmental Assessment after the review and revision are completed and we enter the public comment period,” he said.
Baeslack said the proposed draft Airport Master Plan could then be presented to the University’s Board of Trustees Fiscal Affairs Committee at its March 4, 2005, meeting. Possible action by the Board of Trustees could take place on April 1, 2005.

He emphasized that the timeline is tentative and is dependent upon the date on which the University receives comments from the FAA.