I would like to respond to Randall Henderson, chairman of the Seaside Airport Advisory committee, in a letter he wrote October 6 in the Seaside Signal. My question about rezoning the rural agricultural zone to an airport development zone wasn’t really answered.

If the intention is just to make it compatible with Seaside’s and there are no plans to do any development, why do it? The current rural agricultural zoning is protection for Gearhart residents from unwanted activities at the airport.

I agree that the December 2006 updated airport layout plan does not call for a runway extension. However, the minutes from the July 24, 2007, airport committee meeting mention “Discussion of runway lengthening with the Port acting as mediator with the city of Gearhart as the city of Gearhart is the problem with the lengthening of the runway.”

The FAA recommends that airport layout plans and master plans be revised every seven to 10 years. This means the 2006 plan is several years behind being revised. When this issue is revisited by the airport committee, what will the future plan look like? If the city of Gearhart decides to rezone to an airport development zone, will a future document reflect a runway extension based on the decisions of the airport committee?

The formation of the airport committee in the 1990s was stacked in favor of Seaside, and only allowed one representative from Gearhart. Gearhart city officials mentored me and together we were able to stop the airport development that was being proposed. Gearhart residents need to stay vigilant and not allow the rural agricultural zone to be changed to an airport development zone?

Deanna Mancill

Gearhart