Says Aircraft Operations Would Be Detrimental To His Planned Resort And Equestrian Center

A developer in Cloverdale, CA north of San Francisco is demanding that Cloverdale Municipal Airport (O60) which has that has operated for 50 years, be closed and destroyed so that he can build a $200 million resort hotel and equestrian center nearby.

Jes Slavik is the developer. He says his resort will generate jobs and increase the property tax, bed tax, and sales tax receipts for the city. The airplanes operating from the airport, he says, would "spook the horses" and disturb resort guests, as well as residents who would buy expensive new homes he and other developers plan to build in the area.

There are the usual arguments against the airport. Jacqueline Kennedy told the Press-Democrat newspaper that it "only benefits a handful of Cloverdale people at this time." Kennedy, along with other residents including Slavik's wife, have complained long and loud about a skydiving operation that is based at the airport, which encompasses about 58 acres. They say it is costing the city money and is a "drain on the general fund." City council members say that they are not necessarily anti-airport, "just anti-subsidizing it," said Councilman Joe Palla.

The aviation community tells a different story. Airports are a vital part of a community, they say, and serves as a base for emergency medical helicopters and firefighting aircraft. There are also multiple small businesses that call the airport home.

The city council says it plans to explore what it would take to close the airport. FAA spokesman Ian Gregor told the Press-Democrat that there is no formula for closing the airport, or paying back the federal grants that have been received. Gregor said in an email to the paper that the by accepting the grants, the city has an obligation to "keep the airport open and make it available for public use." He said that the FAA has identified the airport as one that is important to national air transportation, and is part of the nation's airport network.

Airport officials say it would be tremendously expensive for the city to close the airport and tear out the infrastructure that is there. Ed Dalbec, a flight instructor and member of the local pilot's association, told the paper that an FAA official had told him that it would take many as 25 years to close the airport.

Still, about two dozen airports have closed in California between 1990 to 2010, according to the report. And local airport opponents say that if the city council does not do what they want, they would work to place a measure on the ballot and have voters weigh in on whether the airport should be closed. Such a ballot measure would be worded to tell voters that a sports park and riverwalk would replace the airport, which would be an educational tool for students ... in other words, making the alternative as attractive as possible.

The council says there is no specific plan for funding such a new development, or closing the airport, though Slavik, the developer, said he would contribute the money for closing the airport, preparing the land, and building the first phase of the park. He as an option on 254 acres adjacent to the airport property, and says he has "several high net-worth individuals" ready to invest.

He probably needs patience as well, as the aviation community rarely goes down without a fight.

FMI: www.cloverdale.net/index.aspx?NID=240