02/07/2011 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Monday, January 31, 2011 Gene Scott Mn Dot Office of Aeronautics 222 East Plato Blvd. St. Paul, Min.. 55107 Mayor and City Council City of Lino Lakes 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Lakes, MN 55014 651 - 982 -2400 Fax: 651 - 982 -2499 pi s4-1-4 Bruce R. Hansen Surfside Seaplane Base 6980 Lake Drive Lino Lakes, Minnesota 55014 At a recent meeting of the Forest Lake Airport Commission, the issue of a potential race track development in Lino Lakes was discussed. Although we recognize that no plans or approval of plans is imminent, the Forest Lake Airport Commission would like to offer its point of view. Forest Lake Airport is located in the north metro area, just north, and slightly east, of the 35W and 35E split, only 1 mile east of Interstate 35 on Hwy. 96. Since the 9/11 attacks, events that feature large gatherings of people often are issued a Temporary Flight Restriction by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This precludes aircraft from taking off or landing within a 3 -mile radius of said event. Every Vikings and Twins home game features a TFR; no private, banner - towing, or flight training aviation can enter the airspace within a 3 -mile radius of these events, from 1 hour before beginning to 1 hour afterwards. Fortunately, there are no airports or heliports within 3 miles of these venues, therefore, no air traffic is grounded, prevented from taking off or landing. Depending on its placement and proximity to Forest Lake Airport, the proposed Lino Lakes racetrack would have a direct effect on the use, utility, and financial viability of operations at Forest Lake Airport during race events, (including take -offs and landings), should the racetrack be built within a 3 -mile radius of the airport. Further, if the track is built just outside of the 3 -mile radius, operations such as take -offs and landings would be severely limited to avoid entering the restricted airspace of an adjacent TFR. This, of course, is a concern to those who use the airport recreationally, or, more importantly, for business or a source of income. The purpose of this letter is to serve notice of concern by the Forest Lake Airport Commission over the proposed racetrack project in Lino Lakes. Sincerely, Forest Lake Airport Commission: Don Shipp Rick Ashbach Sam Husnik, chair David DeLong Jim Dufour, City Council representative John Schmidt, airport secretary.