Woodburn Independent Online

Over 60 attend Aurora Airport master plan meeting

• By: Ray Hughey  
• Published: 11/10/2009 10:30:33 AM

AURORA — About 65 people attended the Nov. 3 kickoff of the Oregon Department of Aviation project to update the master plan for the Aurora State Airport and chart the airfield’s future growth.
 
The $300,000 project is funded by a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Its purpose is to evaluate needs and trends to update the current plan created 10 years ago. Growth during that time has already exceeded expectations, officials said.
 
The updating of the master plan will cover seven areas: issues and goals, inventory, facility requirements, aeronautical activities forecast, alternatives, airport layout plans and a capital improvement plan.
 
A key part of the process will be the 15-member public advisory committee. Its members will include representatives from the Aurora Fire District, Marion and Clackamas counties, the cities of Aurora, Canby and Wilsonville, the communities of Charbonneau and Deer Creek, three airport businesses and four at-large members.
 
Applications are now being accepted for the four at-large posts. Applications are due by Nov. 17. Selection will be made by the end of month.
 
The project will be carried out over 18 months, including seven work sessions for the public advisory committee and five open house presentations.
 
The first advisory committee workshop will be in January.
 
Oregon Department of Aviation officials at the meeting included interim director Gregg Dal Ponte; state aviation board chairman Mark Gardiner; planning and projects manager Christopher Cummings; and state airport manager Mitch Swecker.
 
Rainse Anderson, project manager for the consulting firm WHPacific Inc., and staff members outlined the components and schedule for the airport master plan update.

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