This project will involve detailed evaluation of major airfield and landside
improvements as well as to incorporate and refine previously approved projects.
Through ongoing conversations with Carroll County (County) staff and representatives
from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), URS will evaluate the potential to
extend Runway 16-34 and to potentially reconfigure the airfield to accommodate
corporate aircraft with larger wingspans. These improvements must be implemented in
a manner where they satisfy existing and anticipated aviation demand while minimizing
the impact to the ongoing operation of the Airport and avoiding impacts to neighboring
businesses. Finally, the long-term development plan for the airport must focus on
maintaining and enhancing the economic viability of the Airport while avoiding adverse
impacts to the surrounding community and the environment.
Through the recent completion of efforts such as the Comprehensive Environmental
Assessment, the County has already undertaken several of the required elements that
must be included in a typical Airport Layout Plan (ALP) update. Therefore, URS's efforts
will focus mainly on the County's goal of addressing and meeting the demand for major
airfield and landside improvements, but not try to "reinvent the wheel". Our basic
approach to this effort is to work with the County and to conduct a diligent and
thorough plan that does not focus on the more ancillary aspects of more comprehensive
Master Planning efforts.
In support of this goal, the following summarize URS's understanding of components of
this effort:
- URS will work closely with the County from the onset of this project to provide
guidance and pertinent information that will assist the County in making the
decision whether to plan DMW for the accommodation of based aircraft and transient
aircraft that are classified as C-III aircraft in the Federal Aviation
Administration's (FAA's) Airport Reference Code (ARC).
- Based on the County's decision whether to plan for upgrading the airfield to
accommodate C-III aircraft or to maintain DMW as a C-II facility, URS will further
define and evaluate a series of airfield alternatives that will include, but are not
limited to those already proposed by the County (described below in a subsequent
Task). Based on conversations with County staff and FAA representatives, it is our
understanding that alternatives must demonstrate the ability to accommodate the
current and anticipated aviation demand while minimizing the impact to the operation
of the Airport and avoiding impacts to its neighbors during its implementation.
- URS will develop a business plan that will assess the financial impact on DMW
(e.g., projected debt funding requirements, overall debt levels, projected debt
service coverage, projected cash balances, etc.) and the likely financial effects on
Airport users (e.g., fuel sales, additional hangar leases, etc.) of the preferred
development alternative. These measures would be calculated on the basis of the
rates and charges methodology outlined in the existing agreements that DMW holds
with its tenants, FBO, and charter services.
- URS will perform a detailed land re-use analysis for the recently purchased
property east of the T-hangar area as well as for any airport property that may be
deemed expendable (a non-aviation related property which may have a higher economic
value as a different land use) as a result of the implementation of the preferred
airfield and landside development alternatives. This effort will concentrate on
maximizing the revenue-generating capabilities of these properties and may recommend
the release of properties that may not be economically viable for airport related
development.
- URS will work closely with County staff and the Technical Advisory
Committee to develop a public involvement program designed to keep the community
informed and involved during the entire process.
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