No Airport = Piecemeal Development

Some people think that if the airport does not relocate, then there will not be any development around West Bay.

That is wrong - and in fact is dangerously naive thinking.

Take for example the 10,000 acres of mitigation land for the airport. It currently has development rights that would allow the construction of approximately 1,100 homes. No land use changes would be necessary.

This is the kind of piecemeal development so many of us have been trying to avoid.

However, if the airport relocates, this 10,000 acres will be moved to conservation forever, and there will be no development on it. No 1,100 homes. Nothing.

When the West Bay Sector Plan is fully implemented, a total of 41,000+ acres will be placed in conservation.

The choice is not between an airport on one hand and no development on the other.

The choice is between protecting West Bay and pro-actively planning our future - or accepting the same kind of piecemeal development that we've seen in other parts of the state.