Originally posted by GregAmy@Nov 22 2005, 06:51 PM
As a pilot, I can tell you that this is not a slam-dunk, in any way, shape, or form.

The FAA and the Aircraft Owner's and Pilot's Association (www.aopa.org) are very much against granting waivers for any use of land or zoning changes unrelated to aviation. The primary reason is that these waivers tend to be abused in the long run; it's not too far along where you'd expect suburbia to encroach on the racetrack and airport boundaries, making the land far, far more valuable as subdivisions than a racetrack. Soon, everyone is complaining about the airplane and racetrack noise, the racetrack gets sold, the airport boundaries are compromised, and then the airport gets threatened with closure. This country loses, on average, a public-use airport per week.

Finally, any easements in airport property limit its ability to expand as necessary in the future; once gone, never to be seen again. Here's a circular at the AOPA web site in regards to compatible airport land use:

http://www.aopa.org/asn/land_use/part2.pdf

Personally, I'm mixed; I'd like to see a new racetrack in the region as much as anyone. However, given the choice between saving an airport and building a new racetrack I'm going to support the airport. - GA
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Greg,

Don't get me wrong, I'm still not completely sold this whole thing is going to happen. I work for the FAA and I understand some of the legalities that can crop up and drown projects.

The reason I'm confident about this has nothing to do with what we see or read in the news. It has more to do with whom the project leaders are, who they know, and how the town, county and state perceives this. This isn't the first proposal for this land, however this is the first proposal that seems to make the most sense for this community.

If and when this track is built I don't see the airport going away, I see it's air traffic increasing. Instead of folks flying commercially into ACY or PHY, I can see private aircraft flying in, taking a shuttle to the track, then a limo to the casinos or to the Millville arts district.

Two things to consider: The town is connected to the history of this airport, since it is considered "America's First Defense Airport", [ http://www.millvilleairport.com ]and part of the reason why they see this project more as a protection-of rather then an encroachment-on the airport.
The second and one that directly addresses your concern is: The land being used was already zoned as commercial property, and just happens to be adjacent to the airport. If this Thunderbolt Raceway/Millville Motorsports Project didn't snag it someone else would have. Millville doesn't want subdivisions there, or a Home-Mart and I would imagine neather does AOPA or the FAA.

Anyone else interested in co-ownership of a trackside condo?