Issue
- Assembly vote close on airport future
Voice of the Times
By Chris Birch
(Published Anchorage Daily News January 30, 2001)
Anchorage is the "Air Crossroads of the World". This slogan is emblazoned on our Chamber of Commerce literature, on signs welcoming visitors and even at the Milepost in front of the Log Cabin downtown. At the center of that envious designation is the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport: famous for the world’s busiest float-plane base and cargo hubs for FedEx and UPS.
For aviation nuts, this place is Heaven. Economists get giddy when they review double-digit growth and affiliated prosperity surrounding "ANC" (the universal three-letter designation for the airport). They start using 50-cent phrases like "diversification", "value-added global logistics", "regional economic powerhouse" and "long-term sustainable profitability" to describe our airport.
But these are the facts: Anchorage’s service-based economy hangs its hat on a strong public-private partnership fostering the smooth passage of goods and services through the worldwide air hub at ANC. General aviation, passenger aviation and the all-important cargo aviation contribute more than $500 million each year to the local economy.
There’s another fact concerning airport development worldwide: environmental conservation. With all the metal, noise, buildings, cars and jet fuel flying around, the airport owners and operators of the world have adopted a community-conscious attitude toward noise abatement, fire safety, crash response and safety for passengers and the airport’s neighbors when it comes to development and facilities maintenance.
That is why it’s crucial for Anchorage’s citizens to support the airport’s proposal to preserve the valuable wetlands at Klatt Bog. This is to accommodate the safe and responsible growth of airport wetlands along the North-South runway, in exchange for preserving a significant (240 acres) wetlands area at Klatt Bog, located just south of the Minnesota Drive curve.
The Bayshore/Klatt Community Council supports this ordinance. Call your Assembly member today and urge them to support economic growth and environmental conservation by voting "YES" for Ordinance 2000-151.
Today, we must leverage the airport’s geographic location and provide for clean economic growth by fostering our vibrant global logistics industry. Take a drive by the FedEx complex on Postmark Drive and look at the incredible economic boost to our city that has taken place. That land, because it’s adjacent to an airport runway, is not suitable for any other kind of development. It’s a perfect match. Right now the airport provides one in ten jobs in Anchorage.
Birds and runways don’t mix. Nobody wants a repeat performance of the tragic AWACS crash at Elmendorf Air Force Base that resulted from birds near the runway. Accordingly, it’s crucial to move precious wetlands away from the airport. Currently, the Klatt Bog is zoned for residential construction and surely will be developed in the absence of this protective ordinance. Approval of Ordinance 2000-151 will insure the preservation of the 240 acres wetlands habitat. Thus, a "YES" vote by the Assembly increases airport safety and accommodates the additional economic development at the airport.
We need to work together in moving forward to diversify our economy by leveraging our geographic location at the airport. We need to encourage and attract clean economic growth to provide long-term, high-paying jobs. Support for this ordinance will guarantee a 240-acre Klatt Bog wetlands preserve for wildlife in South Anchorage. Call your Assembly member today and tell them to vote "YES" on Ordinance 2000-151.
Chris Birch, a professional engineer, is president of the Mid-Hillside Community Council and manager of Engineering Facilities and the Environment at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
Paid
for by Chris Birch for Assembly, 9138 Arlon Street, Suite A3-143 Anchorage,
AK 99507-9138
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2008 All rights reserved
Contact chrisbirch@gci.net
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