What Tweed Airport Really Wants

Just a quick history lesson and reminder of what Tweed New Haven Regional Airport is doing and why the need to purchase two small pieces of useless wetlands from East Haven at a price of 1.5 million dollars.

In 1999, a master plan was developed for the airport. This master plan was written by the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis, a unit within UConn. The plan shows what work was to be performed within four phases of development leading up to a runway length of 7,200 feet. Phase one is complete and phase two, I believe, is as well or if not is almost finished.

In late 2007, the East Haven Inland Wetlands & Watercourse Commission felt the only way to keep the airport from moving Dodge Avenue and rerouting Tuttle Brook was to issue a cease and desist/stop work order on activity occurring on wetland property within the borders of East Haven. The order was issued in February 2008.

Prior to that time, no application was presented to the commission from the airport authority to conduct a regulated activity in the wetlands of East Haven which is under the jurisdiction of the IWWC. The airport authority used its cover as a political subdivision and a body politic of the state (C.G.S., Chapter 267a - Title 15) and went to the Department of Environmental Protection for that application.

East Haven's IWWC Commission disagreed with that application route. Prior to this time, the airport had come in front of the commission for all other work involving wetlands on airport property. But why not this time?

With the stop work order issued, the IWWC wanted the airport to appeal, getting it into Superior Court for a determination of jurisdictional authority involving town property. During the stop work order process period, the mayors of East Haven and New Haven along with the airport authority came up with that agreed-upon “cooling off” period. The airport used this cooling off 60-day period to file for a preliminary injunction in federal court to halt the cease and desist/stop work order. With that action, the commission could forget about any involvement within state court.

East Haven was sandbagged with that delay.

In August 2008, the federal court ruled that East Haven had no authority over activity that involves safety within the confines of commercial airport borders. In January 2009, East Haven was denied its motion for reconsideration of that court’s decision. The federal court ruling can be found via a Google search of “Tweed New Haven Airport Authority v. Town of East Haven, 582 F. Supp.2^nd 261 (D Conn.2008).” Another good place with facts can be found at the FAA’s Airport Law Branch site in an article dated Oct. 11, 2009.

In March 2009, East Haven and New Haven along with Tweed signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) which led to legislation detailing what Tweed could or could not do in regards to expansion. Written into the MOA was a bill to be presented to the legislature known as SB-745, which amended CGS 15-120j, indicating there would be no paving of the “turf” runway safety areas (RSA); that runway 2/20 would not be lengthened beyond the current length of 5,600 feet; limiting the number of commercial landings and takeoffs; plus other details restricting activity.

Sounded pretty good at the time.

So why does the airport need that land? Why, because Tweed needs to own that property to allow for the completion of phases three and four. The Tweed master plan is available on line. Read it for yourself. Phase three calls for the RSAs to be paved and runway 2/20 lengthened to 6,500 feet. Homes at the south end were to be purchased on price agreement and if not, taken by eminent domain. Phase four is to install new RSAs and increase the runway to a final length to 7,200. East Haven ownership of the property prevents phases three and four from happening.

If you think that the legislation written limiting what Tweed can do will keep this from happening you are mistaken. The state legislature writes and repeals bills all the time. When Tweed is ready that bill will be repealed. Forget about taking the airport to Connecticut’s Superior Court. That’s not going to happen. There are dozens of federal court cases involving airports and communities and all have ruled that a commercial airport can do basically what it wants within its borders when it comes to safety and runway improvements. So with the purchase of this property, the fence line changes.

Think about it.

The current assessment lists shows East Haven owning three parcels of land on South End Road, just south of the runway. The three are listed as vacant/industrial or just plain vacant pieces of property. Six South End Road shows an assessment value of $322,950; 18 South End Road is listed as $69,010; and 144 South End Road is assessed at $137,130. The purchase agreement identifies 6 and 18 South End Road as being sold to Tweed. The two pieces of property have a combined assessed value of $391,960. In the beginning of this process, East Haven wanted $2 million and New Haven wanted to give only $1 million. The towns split it down the middle. So why did we the taxpayers, via Hartford, pay such an absorbent amount for useless wetlands?

Because Tweed wants to expand. That’s why.

They bought the town off. Why can’t Tweed just be honest and tell us that fact and also that we can’t do anything about it. For some reason, the powers to be at the Airport Authority and the mayor of New Haven believe they can turn Tweed into another Bradley. So, as you drive by the airport you will hear a loud sucking sound.

That will be your tax money going down the drain.

Richard Poulton is a former vice chairman of the East Haven Inland Wetlands & Watercourse Commission.