Politics & Government

FAA Should Reconsider Air Base, Rep. Meehan Says

As the Federal Aviation Administration contemplates buying a site for a new air traffic control facility, Congressman Patrick Meehan said the agency should consider federally owned Willow Grove air base.

Instead of buying land in New York to build an air traffic control facility, Congressman Patrick Meehan wants the Federal Aviation Administration to instead make use of the shuttered Willow Grove air base.

Meehan (R-7) told Patch that the cash-strapped FAA is in the "preliminary stage" of finding a location for a new air traffic control facility. And, while there is a "preference" for New York, Meehan said that "our region will compete."

"We have a strong case to make," Meehan said. 

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

The FAA is beginning a 60-day request for information, Meehan said. From there, the administration will respond to those whose submissions were deemed worthwhile. 

Meehan first broached the topic of the FAA building on the base when the FAA, under the sequester, announced that it had millions of dollars to cut from its operating budget, but said it intended to spend federal funds to buy land for a new air traffic control facility. 

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

On Friday, the FAA announced it would close 149 air traffic towers to help shed $637 million for this fiscal year budget ending Sept. 30, according to the Huffington Post.

For Meehan, it made no sense to spend money on land when the former Willow Grove air base, located in Horsham, is already owned by the federal government. 

According to the request for information, the FAA is seeking submissions from property owners of "34 to 49 contiguous, buildable acres of land located in the State of New York who would be interested in selling such land to the United States for use as the site of an Integrated Air Traffic Control Facility." All submissions meeting the guidelines would be considered, but land located within 150 miles from downtown New York City would "receive preferential consideration."

When it was announced several years ago that Willow Grove air base would close, the FAA looked at the site, zeroed in on the radar tower, "asked for it twice" and now own it, according to Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Mike McGee. 

At that time, the FAA had no interest in any other portions of the land, McGee said. 

But, Meehan said the land is "tremendously valuable" and the FAA's initial land refusal means nothing.

"Things are constantly changing," Meehan said. 

State Rep. Todd Stephens (R-151) of Horsham, said he has questions about the possibility in terms of who would bear the costs of needed infrastructure improvements; if jobs created would be new positions for local residents, or existing ones transferred from other locales; and if the facility and its employees would generate local tax revenue. 

"Up until now the school district hasn’t generated any property tax revenue from the Naval Air Station," Stephens said. "A lot of us were sort of looking forward to it moving into the private sector."

Stephens said he's been working with Meehan's office and Horsham officials to try to get answers to those questions. But, Stephens, like others in Horsham opposed to future use of the base's runway, was quick to point out that "there’s no flight operations that are involved."

McGee said the prospect of 800 jobs seemed like a good thing.

"I would hope if it comes true, the FAA would want to be located in the business campus aspect of the redevelopment plan," McGee said. "If that’s the case, so be it."


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