Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss |
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FROM: |
Chuck Soules |
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CC: |
Diane Stoddard, Cynthia Wagner, Jonathan Douglass |
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Date: |
November 9, 2011 |
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RE: |
Airport Master Plan November 15, 2011 Agenda Item |
Background.
Lawrence, Kansas has a long and rich aviation history. The airport was established in 1929 on property owned by the University of Kansas. In subsequent years numerous improvements, including paving of the runways, were undertaken by both the University and through various federal grants. In 1977, the airport and the property were deeded to the City of Lawrence.
The 508-acre airport property provides a dual runway system with Runway 15-33 being 5,700 feet long and 100 feet wide. Instrument approaches are available to both runway ends with the approach to Runway 33 providing ½-mile visibility minimums. Crosswind Runway 1-19 is currently designed for visual approaches only. There are approximately 60 based aircraft, including a business jet operated by the university. The airport experiences approximately 32,700 annual operations.
The City of Lawrence has recently extended municipal water and sanitary sewer services to the airport. The availability of these utilities is intended to support future aviation related growth at the airport as well as potential commercial/industrial development on and adjacent to the airport.
Project Process.
The Airport Master Plan for Lawrence Municipal Airport was begun in the summer of 2010 and finalized in August 2011. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) desires airports to update their master plan every five to ten years to account for changes in local demands and aviation trends. This Master Plan comes at an appropriate time since the previous Master Plan was completed in 1991 and an Airport Layout Plan and Narrative Report was completed in 2005. The airport is also poised for growth as municipal utilities have been extended to the airport. The Master Plan covers a 20-year development timeframe that is based on forecast activity levels, particularly in based aircraft and operations.
The Master Plan study was developed in three phases with a planning advisory committee (PAC) made up of community and airport stakeholders who reviewed draft working papers during the process. The FAA and the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) - Division of Aviation were also active participants in the process. A public information workshop was advertised and held at the airport terminal building to involve the public and to present the major findings of the plan. With input from each of these constituencies, a final plan was put forth along with a 20-year capital improvement program.
All phases of the process were posted to the website.
Timeline.
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4/20/2010 |
City Commission approves contract with Coffman Associates for development of Airport Master Plan |
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4/27/10 |
City Commission appoints Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) |
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8/11/10 |
PAC first meeting |
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11/4/10 |
PAC second meeting |
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2/3/11 |
PAC third meeting |
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6/30/11 |
PAC fourth meeting |
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7/27/11 |
Presentation to Planning Commission |
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8/3/11 |
Public Meeting |
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9/8/11 |
Airport Board recommends Master Plan to City Commission |
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10/18/11 |
Master Plan to City Commission |
The Master Plan completed an Airport Layout Plan (ALP) and Capital Improvement Plan. The most notable improvements to the ALP include five specific development strategies:
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Attached is the Executive Summary, Airport Layout Plan (ALP), and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The entire Master Plan can be viewed at http://www.lawrence.airportstudy.com/section_lwc_mp/
Action Requested.
Adopt Airport Master Plan, ALP, and CIP for the Lawrence Municipal Airport.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles F. Soules, P.E.
Director of Public Works
CFS/je
Attachments:
Executive Summary
Airport Layout Plan
Capital Improvement Plan