County adopts Ken Jernstedt Airfield Airport Master Plan
Safety for both ground vehicles and aircraft should improve
around the Port of Hood River's Ken Jernstedt Airfield, thanks
to Hood River County Board of Commissioners action in mid-May
adopting the airport's master plan.
But some serious work must first occur, including the public
process of vacating a section of Orchard Road east of the
airfield.
The County Commission May 18, 2009, approved adoption of
the Ken Jernstedt Airfield Airport Master Plan. A key component
of the planning document is shifting the existing 3,040-foot
runway 550 feet to the east, a move that will require abandoning
Orchard Road where it currently abuts the airport's eastern
side.
This runway shift, however, will move the landing strip farther
from a busy arterial, State Highway 281/Tucker Road, the major
road south of Hood River that sees heavy motorist use. While
the airport's runway will not be any longer, it will see a
significant move to the east, allowing westbound aircraft
to gain more height before flying over the state highway.
By vacating Orchard Road on the east side, the potential for
accidents involving plans and ground vehicles is diminished.
Before its unanimous vote adopting the master plan, County
Commissioners noted that airport neighbors were among the
loudest voices they heard during the May public hearing. And,
most of the testifying residents said they favored safety
over the convenience of a shorter route into Hood River.
Bud Pepitone, whose home is located next to the southern and
farthest end of the potential road vacation, told County Commissioners
he'd rather have a longer drive to Hood River instead of the
present situation that includes speeding cars. "That
whole section becomes the Grand Prix on Saturday night,"
he said, adding road abandonment means about a three-minute
longer drive to town.
County Chair Ron Rivers noted there was little public opposition
to the master plan and its roadway vacation component. "I
thought Orchard Road would be the Achilles Heel but it doesn't
seem that way at all. And I'm quite pleased," Rivers
said before the County Commission's unanimous vote in favor
of master plan adoption.
The primary obstacle identified during the public hearing
was the loss of bicycle access where the planned Orchard Road
vacation will occur. The Port agreed to work with local groups,
including the Hood River Valley Residents Committee, to develop
alternative routes. One possibility may be widening the shoulders
along Tucker Road west of the airfield, which need to be rebuilt
as a result of the Windmaster sewer project currently being
constructed there.
While the county has approved the master plan, actual road
vacation is a separate and public step. The Port will work
with the Federal Aviation Administration to develop a funding
package for the runway shift and corresponding closure of
about 100 feet of Orchard Road. That work should be completed
later this fall. Once funding has been identified, the Port
will work with the county to vacate the road section, and
that process will include at least one public hearing before
the County Commission. The Port owns property east of Orchard
Road where the relocated runway will be sited.
In addition to moving the runway 550 feet to the east, the
master plan also calls for rebuilding the present taxiway
and moving it 35 feet farther north, and establishing airport
services like fueling on the north side of the airfield.
Before arriving at the County Commission, the airport master
plan was reviewed by the Hood River County Planning Commission
in two public hearings dating back to last October. Following
direction from that panel and county planning staff, the Port
modified the master plan to erase unintended land use consequences.
The primary change was removing all of the plan's references
to an instrument approach, which was deemed impractical for
the hilly Hood River Valley but would have created zoning
and building requirements nearly two miles away from the airport.
Instead, the master plan's current visual approach was maintained,
essentially leaving unchanged land use requirements surrounding
the airfield.
County adoption of the airport master plan was identified
as a top priority by the citizen-based Airport Advisory Committee,
which works on airport issues with the Port. May's County
Commission action marked the first time that board adopted
an airport master plan. The county transferred the airport
to the Port in 1976.
- Summer 2009 Port of Hood River Newsletter
Ken
Jernstedt Airfield Airport Master Plan
KEY DOCUMENTS
Airport Layout Plan
Existing FAR Part 77 Airspace Plan
Future FAR Part 77 Airspace Plan
Runway Protection Zone and Inner Approach Plan and Profile
Airport Land Use Plan with 2022 Noise Contours