Judge upholds zoning for Harford County Airport expansion
A Circuit Court judge has upheld approvals for a major expansion of the Harford County Airport near Churchville that owners say will increase the airport’s traffic and capabilities.
The ruling is a defeat for opponents who have fought the plan over concerns about noise, stormwater runoff, aircraft security and the potential for increased aviation traffic.
Plans call for the existing 2,000-foot-long, 35-foot-wide paved runway and two smaller grass runways to be replaced by a 3,200-footlong, 75-foot-wide runway. In addition to the runway, the owners group plans to build new, larger hangars to accommodate additional traffic.
Last year a Harford County hearing examiner recommended approval of a variance to allow disturbance of non-tidal wetlands for the expansion and other facilities at the 74-year-old airport off of Aldino Road. In his opinion issued last week, retired Harford County Circuit Judge Emory A. Plitt Jr. upheld that ruling.
“We’re pleased with it,” said John Gessner, an attorney for the Harford County Airport Owners Group Inc., the airport’s principal owner.
While the opponents can appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, the plan has gone through the county review process, said a county spokesperson, Cindy Mumby.
“The project has site plan approval and the development can proceed,” Mumby said.
Brian Young, the people’s counsel who represented opponents in the case, declined to comment.
No cost estimate for the project has been discussed publicly, but airport representatives have said some improvements would be tied to the availability of grants from the Maryland Aviation Administration and other sources. During the hearing examiner’s review of the project, an MAA official testified in favor of the expansion, saying it was consistent with the state plan for aviation facilities.
Amongthosewhoopposedtheplanduring last year’s review was then-County Council President Billy Boniface, who now serves as director of County Executive Barry Glassman’s administration. Boniface had testified his horse farm in Darlington could be adversely affected by increased flights at the airport, which had 17,840 movements in 2013 and is expected to have more once the expansion is completed.