Mark R. Madler
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority members approved a
development agreement Wednesday that outlines future projects at the
Bob Hope Airport.
Commissioner Carl Holden called the moment "bittersweet" because
the airport has given up a lot, such as not planning for a new
terminal building for 10 years, and hoped that for the seven-year
duration of the agreement there is more trust from the community
toward the commission.
"I hope this is taken in the spirit of what it is doing, which is
peace in the community," said Holden, of Pasadena.
Commissioner Bill Wiggins, of Burbank, said the agreement will
provide certainty over the airport's future plans and, "lets the
community know what the airport is and isn't going to do."
The agreement, which still needs Burbank City Council approval,
lays out cooperation between the city and airport on noise
mitigation; no new or expanded terminal for 10 years; no expansion
of the general aviation land use area; allowing the airport to
purchase an adjacent parking lot; placing on hold the sale of the B-6
trust property; and construction of a taxiway.
A draft agreement released Oct. 18 included parking rental cars on
the adjacent lot the airport will buy, but that proposal was taken
out of the agreement approved Wednesday.
Dan Wormhoudt, of Environmental Science Associates, an
environmental consultant to the airport, said the effect of removing
the rental car proposal was to reduce construction emissions
associated with installing underground storage tanks and other
facilities and eliminates emissions of shuttle vehicles that would
have taken drivers to the cars.
