Greenwich Official Urges Residents to Keep Updated on Westchester Airport Master Plan

GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Peter Tesei is urging Greenwich residents to stay up-to-date on the development of the Westchester County Airport's new Master Plan. It's the first update to the plan in more in 30 years. He urged them to be prepared to voice their concerns.

The consultant hired by Westchester County to develop the Master Plan discussed it during a hearing at the County Center in White Plains on Thursday, and Tesei says that airport's improvement proposals could impact all of Greenwich, not just the Northwest border of the town. Near where the airport is located are several Greenwich schools and nursing home and health care facilities.

"The Westchester County Airport master plan as presented Thursday night is a blueprint with
several concerns for all of Greenwich, not just for residents in the Northwest corner," said Tesei in a statement. "The plan, which must be reviewed thoroughly to determine all of the long-term impacts – environmental, public safety, public health, quality of life including traffic - upon Greenwich and its municipal neighbors, calls for construction of two new parking garages, a corporate jet hangar and a facility for U.S. Customs and Westchester County Police.

"I urge Greenwich residents, especially those impacted by the incoming and outgoing flights at
the airport, to read this vast development plan that can be found on the county’s website," Tesei added.

Residents' "determined resolve and commitment several years ago" helped keep the development and expansion of the airport to a minimum, and that same determination may be needed again.
"Greenwich is working with our neighbors in Rye Brook as well as the Northwest Greenwich Association to ensure any revisions to the airport master plan do not infringe upon their quality of life," said Tesei. "We also must be vigilant to see whether the proposed privatization of the airport operations will be approved by the Westchester County Legislature and be ready to determine the impact that will have upon Greenwich as well."

Patch file photo

By Alfred Branch (Patch Staff)

SEE ALSO:

• Officials Examine 3 Bids for Westchester County Airport Operations
  
• Letter to the Editor: Scrap Astorino's Airport Plan
  
• Hearing on Westchester Airport Master Plan is Thursday