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Show I Longer Runway Weeded At Woods X Airport trim""- By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON If the Woods Cross Skypark is going to grow, it will have to add length to its runway. THAT'S THE conclusion of a report released last month to the Davis County Planning de- partment by the aeronautics division of the Utah Dept. of M Transportation. e ln The report says 2600 S. in Woods Cross, 1100 N. in ile North Salt Lake (one and the same) would have to be closed , but Planning Director Harold Tippetts said an alternate route UqI is already being considered, in ' presenting the report's findings find-ings to the county economic development board last week. FOR THE airport to gain Class II Utility status, enabling it to obtain federal funds, the runway should be extended 700 feet to 5,400 feet. In add-tion, add-tion, the report lists potential problems raised numerous times before with landing capabilities because of oil refineries re-fineries nearby. Two oil firms have facilities on the north and south ends of the airport and several power-lines power-lines also could pose problems, prob-lems, the report indicates: "It would be difficult and very expensive ex-pensive to expand north as there are two sets of large powerlines and several smaller powerline structures north of the present facility." THAT LEAVES expansion to the south, with the report noting the Runway 16 threshold should be relocated 1 ,200 feet to the south, noting a 300 foot clear zone south of 1500 South would provide a minimum 15 foot clearance over 1500 for visual recovery approach, but would be "less desirable." "To bring it into compliance" com-pliance" to qualify for federal funds, the report says 1100 N (2600 S.) should be closed and expansion made southward, the cracking tower and some oil refinery tanks owned by Cowboy Oil should be removed re-moved that are located at the southeast end of the airport. In addition, oil tanks to the northeast north-east would also have to be removed. SPEAKING of the industrial park associated with the airport, air-port, the report notes it is under construction and the east-west road in the park deadends within 90 feet of the east edge of the airport runway. run-way. That appears to be temporary, tem-porary, with little or no barrier between it and the runway, it adds. "More area needs to be developed de-veloped for both aircraft and auto parking," the report notes, adding that property adjacent to the airport should be re-examined and a zoning plan proposed "to insure future fu-ture encroachments will not jeopardize the airport." It also advises formation of an airport master plan. IT RECOMMENDS 27 acres to the south of the existing runway run-way for a clear zone, as well. Speaking to the development develop-ment council, Mr. Tippetts noted the airport currently is under private ownership and would need to become public before it could obtain funding assistance. Several options could be used to operate the facility, including ownership by Woods Cross city, creation of an airport authority or as a satellite of Salt Lake International Interna-tional Airport. He emphasized none of those have been explored. ex-plored. NOTING THE report was "quite critical," Mr. Tippetts said air officials were apparently appa-rently "very hesitant about un limited access to the runway," and also questioned tightness of some of the platted roads. But "that was the intent" in building the industrial park to allow ready access by businessmen busi-nessmen and others from offices to the runway. He said an official who prepared pre-pared the report was concerned con-cerned about proximity of the refinery and holding tank but said oil de-regulation might bring a change in the refinery's status, and felt "some development" de-velopment" could be started. THE REPORT noted a full capacity for such aircraft at Salt Lake International and Mr. Tippetts said Tooele Airport Air-port was "vehemently opposed" to diverting traffic there. A metropolitan air systems sys-tems study, encompassing Wasatch Front airports from Utah County on the south to the Idaho border and from He-ber He-ber City east was completed about a year ago where much data was obtained. Mr. Tippetts said other sights could be considered in the county, including a large "farm" area in Farmington at $7.25 million. Sites in west Layton and southwest Syracuse Syra-cuse could also be studied. HE ASKED Woods Cross city officials to take "a jaundiced jaun-diced view to expansion of anything" in line with the runway, run-way, and said the county could work with the city in formulating formulat-ing future airport growth. City Councilman David Wright, who sits on the development de-velopment board, said the city has "no plans to encourage" growth around the airport. Other city officials contacted by telephone were unaware of the report and those associated with ownership of the airport could not be reached for comment. com-ment. "WE FEEL it's an asset," Mr. Tippetts said of the airport, air-port, but indicated he didn't know the "ultimate answer," to what will happen to Sky-park. Sky-park. He said further discussion discus-sion would be conducted with Federal Aviation Administration Administra-tion officials to determine if the runway extension and other recommended changes should be pursued. |
