Hansocm Update > > https://thebedfordcitizen.org/2023/03/commission-to-scrutinize-individual-aspects-of-hangar-proposal/ > > Commission to Scrutinize Individual Aspects of Hangar Proposal > Mike Rosenberg <https://thebedfordcitizen.org/author/mike-rosenberg/>March > 23, 2023 > > <https://cdn.thebedfordcitizen.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screenshot-2023-01-30-at-2.12.47-PM.png>“Proposed > Condition Site Plan” from the Environmental Notification Form for L.G. > Hanscom Field North Airfield Development, created by engineering firm VHB. > Courtesy Image. > The Hanscom Field Advisory Commission will be addressing individual issues > engendered by plans for almost 500,000 square feet of new and renovated > hangar space off Hartwell Road. > > “Since there’s a lot of community interest in this project, I think we should > spend the next few months dividing it into smaller topics and focus on a > single topic each month,” said Chair Christopher Eliot of Lincoln. > > No interaction with the developers is expected during that period, as they > are preparing a mandatory environmental impact report. A detailed set of > requirements has been issued by the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act > office; on Tuesday Eliot applauded that document, noting that it incorporated > hundreds of public comments. > > Two limited liability companies, in response to a request for proposals from > the Massachusetts Port Authority, want to erect 27 new hangars and restore > the 55-year-old Navy hangar for a total of 495,000 square feet. Opposition > has been registered by constituencies ranging from state Sen. Mike Barrett > and the Save Our Heritage advocacy group to Mothers Out Front, Lincoln > chapter, and residents of Hartwell Farms, the closest Bedford neighborhood to > the site. > > Select Board member Emily Mitchell, Bedford’s representative on the > commission, told the meeting, “In the immediate near term, we are not going > to hear a lot. Our work is in understanding deeply the issues that have been > raised and we want to have answers. But there will be no back and forth.” > > Commission members agreed that the first item would be the so-called “ferry > flights,” in which jet aircraft deliver passengers to Hanscom but have to fly > to another airport for overnight storage because of a lack of hangar space. > The proponents of the hangar project said they are building to meet this > need, and the MEPA document calls for statistical justification. > > Eliot acknowledged, “I don’t think there is data available, but we still can > discuss what we know and what questions we have about it.” > > Amber Goodspeed, director of airport administration, said “the project team > is going to examine that specifically” for the impact report. She added that > there is precedent at Hanscom for a reduction in total flight operations > following the opening of additional hangars. > > “Do you think you could bring the data that you do have to the next meeting?” > asked Eliot. Goodspeed referred to statistics in annual reports that > validated her point. “Could you do anything to make it easier to digest?” > requested Elliot. > > Member Thomas Hirsch, a Bedford resident who represents pilots on the > commission, pointed out that there are a lot of variables – particularly over > the past few years – besides hangar space that influence the number of > operations. > > Eliot said he will draft a list of other topics to be addressed. Hirsch > agreed to review them before the next meeting. > > There was also a disagreement between Kati Winchell of Save Our Heritage and > Goodspeed. Winchell pointed out that, as reported in Massport Board of > Directors minutes, a taxiway will be upgraded near the North Airfield that > will accommodate significantly larger aircraft. > > Goodspeed replied that any such upgrade is not part of the current proposal, > and “if we decide to do this, we always preview with this commission first.” > > More than 50 names were on the Zoom screens at Tuesday’s meeting. Bedford > resident Pamela Nelson said that, from the perspective of forestalling > climate change and air contamination, “to propose an expansion of this > magnitude is profoundly irresponsible.” Hanscom Field already fulfills its > mission as currently configured, she said. > > “We are not necessarily supporting the idea of this project. But this > commission doesn’t make the decision,” replied Eliot, who was elected to his > fifth one-year term as chair Tuesday. “The purpose of this commission is to > get information back and forth to people.” > > Eliot also announced, “It turns out there’s a connection between one of the > proponents of this project and the Silicon Valley Bank. “I don’t have any > knowledge as to whether that would have any impact.” There was no response to > that statement. > > He was referring to Jeffrey Leerink, one of the principals of Runway Realty > Ventures and North Airfield Ventures. Leerink is CEO of SVB Securities, > which, like the failed Silicon Valley Bank, is under the corporate umbrella > of SVB Financial Group. > > Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>, or 781-983-1763 >
------ Sara Mattes
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