Politics & Government

Navy Seeks Comments on Air Base Report

A draft of the federal government's environmental impact statement detailing everything from projected construction costs, to new job creation and tax revenue related to the reuse of Willow Grove air base awaits public comment.

More than 50 area residents came out Monday to view display boards, talk to Navy personnel and see a snapshot of the millions of dollars involved in redeveloping 862 acres of land formerly known as Willow Grove air base.

The Navy held the first of two open house style public meetings Monday aimed at obtaining public comments on the draft environmental impact statement. 

And what type of comments are Navy personnel fielding?

"All comments," Gregory C. Preston, BRAC Program Management Office East director told Patch as people milled about, looking at the three redevelopment options presented on colorful display boards. "We will take every comment we receive and respond to the comment."

The comments will be used in conjunction with finalizing the Navy's long-awaited Environmental Impact Statement. Once the document is complete–likely in May or June–the environmental impact statement will lead the land negotiation and transfer process between the federal government and the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority.

The 772-page draft environmental impact statement appendices and 452-page main body text, outlines everything from land use to environmental management, air quality, noise, infrastructure and utilities, cultural resources and more. 

The report outlines specifics of three potential reuse plans:

  • The preferred plan which was approved locally in March 2012 and calls for just under 1,500 residential housing units, as well as open space, a brand-new Keith Valley Middle School, a robust town center and a 133-acre office park estimated to create 7,577 direct jobs, 2,780 indirect jobs and $15.6 million annually in tax revenue. 
  • A second alternative calling for 1,999 residential units, about 500 fewer jobs and $16.9 million annually in tax revenue. 
  • The airfield alternative, which calls for reuse of the base's runway, 70 housing units, 5,283 direct jobs, 2,330 indirect jobs and $4.2 million annually in tax revenue. 
Runway at play?
Display boards depicting the air strip as a possibility were confusing to some in attendance, including Emily Cook of Elkins Park. 

She said the inclusion of an airfield alternative shows the "military's inability to let go of the base."

"I do not want a runway," Cook said. 

Her sentiment has been echoed by many Horsham Township residents, who have said time and again that they do not want to see the runway resume its use

While the locally approved plan calls for the runway's removal, Preston said the Navy was required to consider it as an option because, "in theory, it's something that could happen."

"We're certainly not advocating for anything. We're studying the issues," he said. "We study everything, anything within the realm of possibility."

Redeveloping for the future 
Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Mike McGee said he had begun to read the lengthy draft environmental impact statement and so far determined that, "it's a good report, very detailed."

Horsham resident Mike Shortall, a Patch blogger who has stayed abreast of the base redevelopment process, said he that even though he will likely be in his 70s when the extensive redevelopment is complete, its future is important "for the other generations."

McGee said he saw "no major surprises" in the draft and is hopeful that the authority, during Wednesday's meeting, will adopt the economic development application which was presented last month and formally begin real estate negotiations with the federal government. 

Estimated construction costs, which range from $274 million with a runway to the higher-density housing alternative estimated to cost $945 million to build, as well as tax revenue figures, job projections and more vary depending on the plan–and depending on which consultant made the calculations, McGee said. 

"There's no two consultants that will come up with the same numbers," McGee said of the 25-year (or longer) buildout. "All of them are saying approximately the same thing."

School impact
Hatboro-Horsham School District Superintendent Curtis Griffin is awaiting projected enrollment numbers from the Montgomery County Planning Commission detailing what the new homes could potentially mean for the schools' population before starting new construction projects, or deciding to close elementary schools. 

The data provided by the Navy shows 571 new students under the preferred plan, or 807 projected with the higher-density housing plan. Griffin pointed out during Monday night's school board meeting that the figures have not incorporated "local data."

"When we build a school we build it for 50 years or more," Griffin said. "What’s the potential population growth not only over the next 5 years, but the next 20 years and longer?"

A target for terrorists?

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Robert Smith of Brandywine Peace Community, the organization that's led monthly protests near the site of a future drone command center in Horsham, provided a written statement to the Navy Monday night. Even though the remotely piloted aircrafts would be manned at a site adjacent to and separate from the 862-acre parcel earmarked for redevelopment, Smith wondered if it would "make the area a target."

"Wars have targets," Smith told Patch. "Drone strikes are creating enemies."

Find out what's happening in Hatboro-Horshamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you go

The Navy's second open house style public meeting is slated for Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Horsham Township Community Center, 1025 Horsham Road. Comment boxes are provided for written comments and Navy personnel are on hand to answer questions. Beyond that, people can share comments by emailing gregory.preston@navy.mil, faxing them to 215-897-4902, or writing to Director, BRAC PMO East, Attn: Willow Grove EIS, 4911 South Broad Street, Building 679 Philadelphia, PA 19112-1303. Comments must be postmarked, e-mailed, or faxed by midnight on Feb. 10.

through email, fax, or in writing through Feb. 10. Visit www.willowgroveeis.com for the full report and more information.


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