Blog Post

Coalition Master Plan Comments

  • By 'Plane Sense for HPN'
  • •
  • 20 Jun, 2022
  • •

New Plan Must Ensure No Expansion 

The message below was sent as the airport coalition's official response to Westchester County regarding the current phase of the Master Plan.  Tell us what you think.  If you support our positions, become a Coalition Supporter and encourage friends and neighbors to do the same.

June 20, 2022

The Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion is an active umbrella group of environmental organizations, homeowner associations, and families representing well over 5000 residents from throughout the region (see our website www.ctpwae.org for details).  

**County government and the Airport Master Plan MUST ensure that airport capacity is not expanded, to minimize risk to the water we drink, the air we breathe, the climate we all depend on, and the health and well-being of so many nearby residents. We support a vibrant but limited airport that does not try to be more.

The Coalition applauds the County on its inclusive approach to the Master Plan process, its efforts to monitor and mitigate groundwater pollution at the airport, its resistance to pressure to approve expanded private hangars, and for taking action to enforce the Terminal Use Procedure law, among other positive measures the County has taken with respect to the airport.

Board of Legislators Resolution 245-2003 should be incorporated into the Master Plan as a fundamental ground rule. The resolution sets forth a policy of no expansion to airport facilities and capacity, and it carried by a vote of 16-0.  It reflects our deep concern for the value of the water in the Kensico Reservoir and the potential risks to it from our airport next door, validated most recently with the discovery of high levels of PFAS contamination in airport groundwater a few years ago. PFAS pollution ruined Newburgh’s reservoir, just across the Hudson. While we are faring better at Westchester, this is a cautionary tale. Who knows what the next environmental crisis emanating from the airport may be?

85% of the flights at our airport are now private flights - NOT commercial flights. Since the 1980s, general aviation (“GA” - that is, non-commercial airline traffic) has greatly expanded, especially with respect to larger private and corporate jets which have steadily proliferated during the past decade. Westchester communities should not be forced to tolerate increased air traffic with its accompanying noise and air pollution. The private flights above us are no longer smaller Pipers and Cessnas. Federal rules restrict our ability to regulate and limit air traffic directly. One remaining lever to exert influence, at least indirectly, is by limiting ground facilities under County control.

Aircraft noise and emissions adversely affect many surrounding communities that the County estimates contain 25% of Westchester residents. Harm to the Kensico Reservoir would impact about nine million people in Westchester and NYC. And of course, aviation’s impact on climate change – especially the disproportionate impact of private aviation -- affects us all.

Calls for expanding airport facilities to create mainly temporary construction jobs and vaguely support “the economy” need to be balanced against the airport’s far-reaching and substantial negative impacts, including risks to quality of life and livability in key residential areas of the County should the airport expand further.

Our Coalition urges the County to include in the Revised Master Plan:

  1. Incorporation of Board of Legislators Resolution 245-2003 into the Master Plan as a fundamental ground rule, as stated above.
  2. A full accounting of the airport’s environmental and adverse economic impacts and risks alongside any evaluation of its real and potential economic benefits. This assessment must include both direct and indirect impacts. For example, the airport is directly responsible for greenhouse gas and other pollutant air emissions generated on airport property and by aircraft arriving and departing. It is indirectly responsible for GHG and pollutant emissions by vehicles traveling to and from the airport and by other businesses serving airport needs from outside its boundaries.
  3. More realistic, limited demand projections. The Master Plan being replaced assumed robust growth in demand, despite the fact that the number of flight operations has not been increasing, apart from post-COVID restoration. It also disregarded the caps on airline operations set by the County’s Terminal Use Procedures law. These kinds of flaws produced inflated demand projections and were used to justify plans to expand airport facilities. The Master Plan should assume no growth in airport operations.
  4. Recommendations for the planning period that assume NO growth in airport facilities despite any projected increase in demand for local aviation services. The airport should have a blueprint on how to manage demand and any resulting operational challenges without expanding the capacity of airport facilities. We may have to accept all the aircraft that our airport can handle, but we don’t have to modify our airport to handle more aircraft. What this suggests is that our Master Plan should carefully consider what kinds of aircraft we dedicate our limited existing resources to attract. For example, how might we prioritize hangar space for Westchester-based businesses with large local economic multipliers over companies that cater largely to New York City and Fairfield County clientele, or private leisure flights to regional weekend destinations.
  5. A framework and recommendation for Expansion Assessment Reviews to be conducted on airport projects that are subject to an environmental review process. This additional review would evaluate a project’s potential for expanding airport capacity and explore mitigation measures that could be taken to eliminate or minimize expansion risks. The Master Plan should endorse the adoption of Expansion Assessment Reviews as a standard operating procedure following a process like that of environmental reviews with respect to timeline, documentation, public participation, and transparency.
In addition, The Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion favors inclusion of the following in the revised Airport Master Plan:

  • Strategies to strengthen the Voluntary Restraint From Flying (VRFF) that go beyond simply publicizing and encouraging adherence to the VRFF and include measures that create accountability for those who disregard the well-being of Westchester residents by flying overnight. For example, other airports prominently post the names of violators (giving them opportunity to justify themselves). Also, the cost per operator to keep the airport running all night is much higher than during daytime hours yet all currently pay the same user fees. Day users should not be subsidizing VRFF violators. The Master Plan should evaluate and recommend drastically increased overnight fees instead.
  • A formal study, or at least the recommendation for a study of an alternative airport funding strategy, that substitutes user fees instead of taxpayer-subsidized FAA grants that come with big strings attached. Over the long term a new funding strategy could be the key to freeing us to reestablish local control and set reasonable limits on airport use. It would irresponsible not to analyze the viability of alternative funding approaches used successfully elsewhere.
  • Proposals to increase airport sustainability through solar installations on buildings and open land, the rapid adoption of unleaded and sustainable fuels, and safe and unobtrusive electric aviation. Critically, these proposals should help us achieve these ends without building additional facilities that could support increased operational capacity at the airport.
On behalf of all the Coalition’s supporters, thank you for your consideration of our input.We would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss further any aspects of this submission.

George Klein

Steering Committee Chairperson

Coalition to Prevent Westchester Airport Expansion

www.coalition-to-prevent-westchester-airport-expansion.org

For a vibrant but limited and environmentally responsible County airport governed by policies that prioritize public health and safety, the reservoir and environment, and our quality of life in Westchester and the surrounding region.

Stop WJWW Airport Land Swap

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 19 Jun, 2023
Coalition opposes land swap for WJWW plant when alternate site is available outside the reservoir watershed and calls on supporters to act.

Coalition To Hold Briefing for Supporters 9/20/22

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 13 Sep, 2022
Please join us for an hour-long meeting on Tuesday evening, September 20th, at 7pm via Zoom. Attendees will get updated on the Airport Master Plan process and public forums, and on what the Coalition is doing to prevent airport expansion.

Million Air Cited for More Violations

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 22 Jul, 2022
County sends letters alleging lease and license agreement violations. Demands removal of parking lot and information about any unauthorized sublease to Blade (which is suing the County).

Pouring Cold Water on Breeze Plans

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 12 Jul, 2022
Breeze Airways scales down and delays new flights at Westchester County Airport just as it begins operating there. Airport Coalition explains position on new airline flights.

Last Forum on Airport Master Plan TONIGHT

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 06 Jul, 2022
Tonight's online forum will likely be the last chance for Westchester residents to be heard before the County begins drafting a revised Master Plan for the County airport. The Coalition urges all to participate.

Coalition Weighs in on New Hangar

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 15 Jun, 2022
Coalition position paper opposes proposed large new hangar for Million Air at County Airport.

What Lessons for Westchester?

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 19 May, 2022
NYT article explores East Hampton's efforts to gain local control over its airport.

Coalition Hails County Enforcement Effort 

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 01 Dec, 2021
The Coalition released a Press Release 12/1/2021 applauding the County's decision to demand that multiple companies end flights at the airport that violate County law.

Coalition Meets with Latimer

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 29 Nov, 2021
Highlights and updates from our meeting with County Executive George Latimer.

FAA Holding Open House on Airport Noise

By 'Plane Sense for HPN' • 17 Jan, 2020
Please attend FAA's Open House on Noise from Westchester County Airport 1/22/2020
Show More
Share by: