Options on the table

by Kate Bouey - CASTANET Feb 6, 2016 / 1:00 pm

City council has released reams of formerly classified information on development options for Vernon Regional Airport. The various options range in projected costs from $986,400 to $11,063,300. Council has yet to make any decisions. The analysis includes aviation demand forecasts, development cost projections and employment impact estimates. The draft airport master plan is scheduled for further discussion at council's Feb. 22 meeting. The newly-released documents can be found on the City of Vernon website. Meanwhile, in a letter to Castanet, one Okanagan Landing resident called for information on the environmental impact of a longer air strip and the possibility of larger aircraft. “Any expansion will be done at the cost of taxpayers and it will seal the fate of Okanagan Landing.” wrote Janice Misutka. City staff have not recommended going ahead with an expansion of the runway but some council members have asked for further information. Staff warned that an expansion would have to be approved soon, ahead of new Transport Canada regulations that could nix such development in the future. “It should raise red flags to everyone,” said Misutka. “Why would you fast track any project when you know there are changes coming?”
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 Declassified Presentation from In-Camera Council Workshop, February 4, 2016.