Farmers And Residents Near The Site Voice Strong Opposition

The city council in Cleveland, Tennessee, is moving ahead with plans to build an airport on land it has purchased for that purpose, despite the fact that it is outside the city limits and over the strong objections of people living near the site.

For now, the 311 acre tract is a corn field.

The city is seeking permission from the state aeronautics division to move ahead with the zoning changes required to build an airport on the land. Television station WDEF reports that airport board chairman Lynn Devault is requesting that letter. "I have no indication that they would not authorize us to do that ...Because that's just part of the procedure in the state law," she told the station.

But nearby residents say they will do all they can to make it as hard as possible for the city to get the airport built. They say their property rights in the 24,000 acres surrounding the airport site are being stripped with no compensation, including the height of buildings, use of solar panels, and the ubiquitous complaint near an airport ... noise. Already they have managed to persuade the county government to force the city to vote against the zoning change, meaning additional hoops for the city to jump through to get the changes.

Hardwick Field

Proponents of the new airport say a modern replacement is needed for Hardwick Field in Bradley county, which has a 3,300 foot runway. "We have 9 different agencies that are coordinating on this airport," Devault told the station. "(It)...Takes a long time..it's a long process to go."

FMI: www.cityofclevelandtn.com, www.bradleyco.net