February 2, 1998

Ms. Peggy Kelley
Federal Aviation Administration
Memphis Airports District Office

Dear Ms. Kelley:

As a lifelong resident of Fayette County and an elected representative of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council, I understand the community-wide benefits of Blue Grass Airport. As a child, I spent many hours touring the airport's tower and playing "pilot" in the cockpits of various airplanes. My father is a retired meteorologist who worked at Blue Grass Airport, and through his fascinating occupation I was exposed to a wide variety of wonderful aviation experiences. I also had the opportunity to meet many interesting people such as air traffic controllers, pilots, ground crews, and other of my father's colleagues. I came to know Blue Grass Airport as well as my own home. It was a sad day when the original terminal was razed and replaced with the current terminal, but the change was necessary and ultimately beneficial for the community.

The proposal for an additional runway at Blue Grass Airport is not a new idea. This has been an ongoing issue for many years. As aviation standards and regulations have changed, a safety concern has emerged, signaling the apparent need for a new 900 ft. runway to accommodate today's larger planes and increased air traffic. However, I would encourage the FAA to consider the following in the scope of the study which will eventually provide the guidelines and direction for the proposed expansion of Blue Grass Airport:

• Lexington is well-known both nationally and globally as "The Bluegrass" for its scenic rolling hills, miles of plank fencing and the most famous thoroughbreds in the world. This is Fayette County's proud signature. Of important note, this unique farmland has been designated permanent open space by the Greenspace Commission. The vistas are irreplaceable, the soil content is unique and the land itself can never be reclaimed. The benefits derived from this area -- tourism, the equine industry and varied agricultural uses -- are vital to Fayette County's continued economic growth. This unique signature must be protected.

• Many areas of historic significance are located on Bowmans Mill Road, Parkers Mill Road and Military Pike, all of which are designated Scenic Byways and located immediately beyond the land adjacent to the airport. It is important to understand that any negative impact from airport expansion would have real and devastating effects on the historical and monetary value of these properties.

• Water quality is a very real concern to the many farm and homeowners surrounding Blue Grass Airport. The airport, indeed the entire region, lies within a large geographic region of limestone karst. Due to the meandering and unmapped nature of the above -- and below -- ground streams, sinkholes and caves, water runoff has the potential to travel miles through the layers of limestone. Airport-related fuel and oil spills which might enter this vast, fragile system would dangerously affect the ground and surface water consumed by humans, livestock and crops.

• The Versailles Road corridor, which runs along the north side of the airport, is a major artery into Lexington. The internationally famous and historic Keeneland Race Course and the renowned Calumet and Bluegrass Farms, to name but a few, are located in close proximity to the airport along this important gateway. Much time and considerable financial efforts have been put forth to preserve the integrity and beauty of Versailles Road.

• Noise pollution is also a very real concern which must be considered with the proposed expansion of Blue Grass Airport. In sectors 4A, 4B and I 1 D of Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's population projections, citizen growth during the past 20 years has resulted in over 30,000 new households, in 1995 numbers, located in the immediate area of the airport. That represents 13 percent of Fayette County's total population. These people will be directly affected by the rising noise pollution of overhead air traffic. Population projections show a steady increase in those same sectors over the next 20 years. Sector 1 ID, the Beaumont area, will be as large as a small city when completed. Due to all of the recent public concerns from citizens who live adjacent to the airport in Louisville, it is critical that this issue be given strong consideration in the study.

• The airports in Louisville and Cincinnati are both within a one and one-half hour drive from Lexington. Many Lexingtonians already use these two facilities and would be in favor of looking into some form of transit to and from the Bluegrass area to these already established major airport hubs as an alternative to expanding Blue Grass Airport.

In closing, I would like to again express my lifelong fondness for Blue Grass Airport. It is an important part of our community and should continue as such. Today, however as an elected representative of the 10th District, I represent residents who have invested their life savings in their homes. and properties. These people risk losing that investment if the parallel runway becomes a reality.

Please consider all of these concerns when you conduct the scoping study for the expansion of Blue Grass Airport. When this issue is finally settled once and for all, when all of the rhetoric is over and the lawyers and officials have gone home, it will be the ordinary citizens of Lexington who will have to live with the decision. Our challenge is to ensure that the ultimate decision is reasonable and wise for the future of "The Horse Capital of the World".

Sincerely,

Sandy Shafer
Councilmember, District 10

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