Community Members Encouraged to Submit Comments By Feb. 26
BEVERLY– Airport Manager Gloria Bouillon wishes to provide the community with an update on the next steps for the airport’s new master plan.
The new master plan will replace the airport’s current plan, which was first developed in 1999 and no longer reflects the operations of the airport.
In the 2019 Massachusetts Statewide Airport Economic Impact Study, Beverly Regional is estimated to have brought $34 million annually in economic activity to the North Shore region. The airport has 18 businesses on site that continue to grow and hire new employees, and has a wait list for building and hangar space with increased attractiveness to encourage new businesses depending on the finalized form of the new master plan.
Virtual public meetings were held in late January for residents of Beverly, Danvers and Wenham to learn more and weigh in on the progress of the master plan, and a second round of public meetings will be held in late April to share an update on planning for the plan’s implementation and to gather further input and feedback from the community.
These meetings will include a review of the most up-to-date efforts associated with the master plan, as well as any adjustments made since the January public meetings. They will also present the 20-year-phased implementation recommendations for projects and next steps as required by the Federal Aviation Administration for airport master plans. The FAA and MassDOT are active partners in the development of the airport’s new master plan, and continue to share their expertise and have been reviewing the plan throughout the process.
Community input to date has included concerns about existing noise levels associated with the airport. The airport is currently conducting a noise study which will be presented at the April meetings, in addition to information on pilot education regarding noise and voluntary noise abatement procedures for aircraft operators.
Dates for the spring meetings will be announced by the airport as soon as they are finalized.
“We are deeply appreciative of everyone who joined us for the virtual public meetings in January and look forward to providing more information in the spring,” Bouillon said. “In particular we look forward to having specialists share their insight about noise, as we understand that is a primary concern for residents. We also encourage residents to continue to share their feedback with us through Feb. 26.”
Residents will also be able to share comments following the spring meetings later this year.
About the Master Plan
The Airport master plan is a federally and state regulated and funded process designed to project future levels of aviation activity at the airport and any associated capital projects required over the next 20 years. All recommended improvements must comply with all federal and state regulations and airport design standards. The master plan will serve as a guide to address infrastructure needs with the goal to ensure that the airport continues to operate in a safe, efficient, and effective manner, while reflecting the character and goals established for it by the Beverly Regional Airport Commission.
Improvements proposed in the plan include paving the existing 300-foot Runway Safety Areas at each end of Runway 16-34 to enhance aircraft operational safety and improve efficiency for departing aircraft. Additional proposed improvements include increased efficiencies through taxiway realignments, updating existing pavements, potential landside development opportunities based on demand, and the construction of a new airport vehicle service road to enhance operational safety. All of these potential improvements are contingent upon appropriate future environmental permitting and funding. The upcoming April meetings will address the timeline and funding availability for proposed improvements. The Airport Commission will decide what and when to approve a project.
Residents are encouraged to submit comments regarding the January public
meetings by emailing Airport Master Plan Project Manager Jim Miklas at jim.miklas@woolpert.com. The deadline to submit comments regarding the master plan is Feb. 26.
For more information about the master plan project and to review the documents from the January 2021 meetings, visit www.beverlyairport.com and click on the Master Plan tab. Anyone with questions can contact Beverly Regional Airport Manager Gloria Bouillon at gbouillon@beverlyma.gov and/or Miklas at jim.miklas@woolpert.com.
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