PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles has started the process of finding a solution to the ever-growing, obstructive Lincoln Park trees in the path of William R. Fairchild International Airport.
But don’t expect a decision on cutting down trees to increase visibility of the airport’s flight path until the beginning of 2018, port Airport and Marina Manager Jerry Ludke said.
At a special meeting Monday, commissioners unanimously accepted a $596,913 Federal Aviation Administration grant to update the five-year airport master plan as part of a $663,237 project.
The overall amount includes the port’s 10 percent match of $66,324, half of which will be covered by state Department of Transportation funds.
Reid Middleton Inc. of Everett will update the plan, which will include aviation demand forecasts and alternatives to address the trees.
The FAA is requiring the update before and if an environmental assessment is conducted as part of finding a solution to the trees.
“This project will determine the airport’s critical-aircraft and required runway length and lays the groundwork for deciding whether a follow-on environmental assessment is necessary,” Jerry Ludke, port airport and marina manager, said in a report to commissioners.
Trees at the city-owned park have grown so tall they have cut the safe approach to the 6,350-foot main runway to 5,000 feet.
The option of cutting the trees has encountered stiff, emotional opposition from some city residents.
Commissioners met in executive session for 50 minutes to discuss three parcels of property and to discuss the master plan update before emerging and approving the grant with little discussion.
Port lawyer Simon Barnhart of Port Angeles said the master plan update was discussed behind closed doors as a matter of potential litigation, although he said no litigation has been threatened or is pending.
Ludke said later in an interview that it could take at least a year to determine if an environmental assessment needs to be conducted.
“I would think it will be two-and-a-half years before a decision is made on tree removal,” he said.
Ludke said the trees have not hindered the port’s effort to entice a commercial passenger airline to the airport, which since November has lacked commercial passenger service except for charter-based Rite Bros. Aviation.
Ludke said he is hoping to hear by the end of July from an airline that may start flying in and out of Fairchild.
He would not identify the airline.
In a related matter, port commissioners accepted a $922,500 FAA grant for a $ 1.02 million project that includes a $102,500 port match for runway apron improvements.
The improvements will allow more frequent operations by larger corporate and general aviation aircraft.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.