JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The controversy over extending the main runway at Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport could soon go through another round.
Jacksonville City Council member Matt Schellenberg has filed a resolution asking the City Council to encourage the city and the Jacksonville Aviation Authority to re-evaluate the potential extension of both runways at Craig.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority revived a plan in 2006 to extend the runway by 2,000 feet. The goal was to accommodate commercial business aircraft.
East Arlington residents who live near the airport rose up loudly and staged protests around the airport and at City Hall, saying a longer runway would make the airspace noisier and less safe. In 2008, after contentious meetings of the Jacksonville City Council, JAA withdrew the bill to extend the runway.
More than a decade later, Schellenberg is asking the council to take another look.
“I think the jets are quieter, and the engines are quieter, but mostly it’s a safety issue," Schellenberg said. “Why is it that a few people in Arlington get to dictate whats great for Jacksonville? They’re holding up progress.”
Schellenberg believes the runway expansion would bring more business to Jacksonville by allowing more executive jets to fly in. His resolution reads in part:
"In the last decade, aviation technology has advanced significantly, warranting re-evaluation of the impacts of a potential extension of the runways at Craig Airport."
Paul Ashley has lived by the airport for 20 years. He believes extending the runways would create issues for residents.
"Bigger jets, bigger noise, more congestion, more people, more of everything. That’s not what we’re looking for in this neighborhood, I don’t believe," Ashley said. "We’ve already ... petitioned it and the whole nine yards, and it still keeps coming back.”
Ashley said if the city goes through with the proposal, the neighborhood will fight it once again. Schellenberg plans to present the resolution to City Council during its meeting on Tuesday.
News4Jax asked Mayor Lenny Curry for his opinion on the proposal. He said the decision lies with City Council.