I would like to correct a few of the statements in Deanna Mancill’s letter of Oct. 2 regarding the suggested zoning change for part of the Seaside Airport property.

The issue came up during a routine regulatory review of the airport boundaries by the airport committee. At that time we noted that the 9.66 acres of airport property south of Oster Road that lie within Gearhart city limits is zoned rural agricultural (RA), in contrast to the rest of the airport which is zoned airport development (AD).

I suggested that we ask Gearhart about a zoning change for that specific acreage as it made sense to us that it be consistent with the rest of the airport and its current use. Since we’re not land use experts we anticipated learning more from the Gearhart planning commission. To date that has not happened as this is an ongoing process.

Ms. Mancill expressed concern that a zoning change would open the door to runway extension and development by condemnation of adjacent properties. It’s difficult to imagine such a scenario, since the acreage in question is almost entirely taken up by existing runway, taxiway and adjacent clear (no-build) zones including 300 feet of grass area which is designated runway overrun.

The overrun could not be paved to extend the runway without relocating roads and properties, and the barriers to that are significant and well understood by the airport committee and the city.

The current airport layout plan has no such provisions, and as I recall the 1995 plan didn’t either. Regardless of that, the 1995 plan could not be “executed at any time” as it has long since been superseded by the current airport layout plan.

The committee explained all of this to Ms. Mancill at the September meeting. I hope this clears up any misunderstandings that she or anyone else still has on this topic.

Randall Henderson

Chairman

Seaside Airport Advisory Committee