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Embattled airport may
grow as new jet-plane
class shrinks
ICORNER
I
_I •¦¦•¦¦' By Paul Gauvin
B
arnstable's embattled municipal air-
port is a classic example of a munici
pal pain in the asset.
It denies the town a huge share of truly
prime real estate, is a major contributor
with trie ferries to dreadful traffic; it is an
infuriating noisemaker, a perpetual politi-
cal football, an inconvenient neighbor and
a defendant in a federal case alleging fraud
and racketeering, among other accusations
brought by a major tenant.
All that to service less than 1percent
of the local population, the remainder of
which is disturbed by the aforementioned
annoyances that make enrich airline own-
ers, create jobs for out-of-town pilots and
overtime for policemen in these days of
terror.
On the asset side, the airport turned over
$733,837 to the municipal government this
year, according to the town finance de-
partment, for services rendered. The field
provides a place for lucre-laden jet setters
to land, buy expensive houses with hefty
corresponding taxes and, again with the
ferries, contributes, for better or for worse,
to morphing a quiet town into a small but
bustling city.
No matter how much screaming air-
port critics do, the airstrip is here to stay
despite the thorny issues and the wistful
desires of some for it to just go away - as in
move to Otis.
It s unfortunate a service that fills a Cape
need also taints quality of life. It's regret-
table too that it pits municipalities against
one another, as in Yarmouth's attempt to
land a voting member from that town on
the Barnstable board that governs the facil-
ity, or that Barnstable objects and that it
remains an ongoing impasse.
Since Yarmouth would have only one
vote , it seems a given that Barnstable
would generally get its way by majority
vote, so what's the harm? Then again on
Yarmouth's side, what's to be gained?
Yarmouth can be assured the issues it
has with flight path noise is equally shared
with Barnstable residents who also live in
flight paths - to the point that on some
days you have to stall a telephone call until
the planes fly over and away so you can
hear.
On the other hand, comparing Yar-
mouth's bid to Barnstable 's successful
effort to land a voting member on the
Steamship Authority is illogical. Barnstable
actually hosts a major Steamship port and
the nuisances and traffic that it gener-
ates. Most of the channel is in Barnstable
waters. Yet, the Legislature saw fit to split
a steamship head tax with Yarmouth and
Barnstable didn't object - a gift - which
Yarmouth should appreciate.
A few years ago, when talk of a new
airport terminal surfaced , some residents
of both towns feared an expansion of the
runways would be next.
Forget that , because small airports like
this one won't get bigger, the planes will
just get smaller.
Enter a new wave of corporate and pri-
vate jets collectively known as VLJ - or Very
Light Jets. They are smaller versions of
today 's corporate jet , carry six people and
have a price tag that opens a new market
making the planes more affordable to more
buyers.
Last month, FAA administrator Marion
Blakely handed over a provisional certifi-
cate to Eclipse Aviation for its E500VLJ
saying "...this piece of paper will truly
change the face of aviation."
How hot will this market be? With just a
provisional certificate in hand - the plane
still needs FAA approval , computer and ic-
ing tests among others - Eclipse can begin
delivery of its first 2,500 planes to custom-
ers who have made non-refundable depos-
its.
The VLJ is a flying sports car, carries 5 to
7 passengers and hits from 375 to 405 mph.
It's tiny for a plane at under 10,000 pounds
and certified for single-pilot operation (at
a 25,000-foot limit) with advanced cockpit
automation , automated engine and systems
management and integrated , autoflight ,
autopilot and flight-guidance systems.
And they will cost only $1 to $3 million
- for some less than the cost of a summer
homes and yachts and quite within range
of toys for big rich boys. They need only
small runways, meaning they can utilize
the nation's 5,000-plus satellite airports,
of which Barnstable is one. In a few years
1,000 a year are expected to be sold.
Forget the old problems. Badger Con-
gress to have the FAA demand silencers
on these pocket-rockets before they're
licensed , then everybody will be happy.
Watch for smaller planes, not longer run-
ways.
ACROSS TIME 6 PLACE
RETROSPECTIVES FROM THE ARCHIVES
A DIFFERENT VIEW, PARK SQUARE, 1915 - At one time, Park Square at the east end ot Main Street,
Hyannis lived up to its name. This postcard scene dates to 1915 based on the postmark, but its
likely a few years earlier than that. Up until the most recent changes, some semblance of a park
remained in the awkward and poorly-functioning rotary that clogged the entry into Hyannis from
Yarmouth.Today's four-way signalized intersectionworks much better in moving traffic, but it's not
nearly as nice to look at.
LETTERS
MUNAFO: Action
based on charter, not
a 'spat'
I would like to respond to
your recent article "Tit for Tat
InAirport Spat"or "... councilor
seeks to drop neighbor rep,"
The tenor of your article
portrays my actions to be reac-
tionary or vindictive in nature.
I would respond not so!
The Yarmouth Representa-
tivetotheBarnstableMunicipal
Airport Commission (BMAC)
has been an issue of concern
for some time. I have always
believed therole ofanon-voting
member was a form of incre-
mental-ism and would lead to
a voting member.
Ihave attempted twiceinthe
last 18months to move forward
on legislation that would align
the BMACwiththe Town Char-
ter and Administrative Code.
The resolve to bring forward
the present legislation began
after this year's budget cycle
wascomplete (longbefore Rep.
Cleon Turnerwaspetitioned by
Yarmouth).Inmyfirst attempt I
wascounseledbycolleaguesnot
to do so.In the second attempt
I was asked by the leadership
not to.
Decisions I regret today, not
because I was politic, but be-
cause I don't believe the issue
would be as out of control as it
is today.
Under the Charter the make-
up and appointments of the
BMACfallsto the TownCouncil,
the Administrative Code allows
for onlyaseven-memberBMAC,
it requires appointments to
the BMAC be made by the
Council, and that appointees
be registered voters ofthe Town
of Barnstable. There are ways
to allow for exception, none
have been allowed for in this
instance.
Section 2-3 of the Charter
states "... all powers of the
town shall be vested in the
town council which shall pro-
vide for their exercise and for
the performance of all duties
and obligation imposed on the
town by law."
The oath of office a town
councilor takes is only three
lines long, the second one we
swear to says, "Keeping upper-
most in my mind the rules and
laws that govern my office, and
myresponsibilityto the citizens
of the Town of Barnstable."
I do not believe the council
is above the law, nor is that the
example we should lead by.
Iwasconcerned inthe article
by the use ofpresumption ,such
as "prompted a Hyannis coun-
cilor," "...received with equal
offense by some in Barnstable,
including Hyannis Councilor
Jim Munafo..." and the use of
inflammatory words and terms
such as, "Tit-for-tat ," "spat,"
"drop neighbor ," "knocked
back," "something akin."
The article clearly points
out I was unable to attend
the agenda hearing, That still
left 48 hours and no less than
16 working hours before The
Barnstable Patriot had to go
to print. I believe if I had been
interviewed for the article, the
flavor of the article might have
been different.
Without regard, I think this
newspaper is the best and look
forward to reading it every
week!
Jim Munafo , Jr.
Hyannis
Precinct 3 Town Councilor
JFK Museum belongs
where it is
When the Hyannis Area
Chamber of Commerce tour-
ism committee developed the
plan to establish an exhibit on
the Cape years of President
Kennedy, the first step was to
seek Kennedy family permis-
sion. That year-long process
was crucial to the credibility of
such an exhibit and eventual
museum.
In that process, the family
asked that the museum be
sited in a building that existed
duringthe President'slifetime.
We considered about six sites,
including the National Guard
Armory on South Street in
Hyannis. At the time, the Ar-
mory was deemed inappropri-
ate for a number of reasons.
Aside from needing a great
deal of renovation , it was away
from mainstream pedestrian
patterns and the National
Guard was not amenable to
giving it up for another use.
Eventually, we were able to
secure the Old Town Hall
building thanks to the Town
of Barnstable.
Thislocation was even noted
and praised by the local media
who recognized its importance
in the renaissance of Hyannis.
In the years of the museum's
existence, we have taken care
to represent images and in-
formation about the Armory
building, and the role Cape
Cod played in the President's
election.
The museumhas become the
repository of the Kennedy his-
tory as it relates to Cape Cod.
We believe it tells the story of
Cape Cod and the President's
time here very well.
Now we hear the tremen-
dous news that the Town of
Barnstable is abie to secure
the Hyannis Armory site for
a broader civic use. I believe
a facility for performances ,
meetings and other public
gatherings there would be
a tremendous asset to the
village , the town and the
region.
I recommend that the JFK
Hyannis Museum Founda-
tion stand ready to curate an
appropriate exhibit at that
site to interpret the events of
Election Day, 1960.
Wendy K. Northcross
Co-founder JFK Hyannis
Museum
West Barnstable
Time for Cape
commission to
respond
Task Force 21 Century has
concluded its summer 2006
"investigation"ofthe Cape Cod
Commission. (Sadly, only two
Town Councilors attended any
hearing; save of course task
force member Farnham.) They
next meet on August 29 for a
grueling four-hour sift of some
61 proposed recommendations
by the general public , town
administrators and a clutch
of developers. Most testifiers
praised the commission. One
Yarmouth official claimed nay-
sayers boycotted the hearings
because the Task Force setting
was intimidating!
Yours truly found chair El-
liot Carr and 18 colleagues
extremely collegialwhilst being
upfront withdisagreement.Too
bad: Naysayers are invaluable
democratic ingredients.
Not to worry.Thecommission
wasfaced withopposition some-
timesequalingthe summertime
heat. On one morningsomehad
to endure three speakers from
that shadow government -the
Cape Cod Chamber of Com-
merce. (Will the Cape Chamber
follow Plymouth's attempt to
achieve power through a peti-
tion?)
Attorney Pat Butler and 13
friends addressed the Task
Force twice, the only group so
conflated. Mr.Butler'sgroup is
dubbed "FPB," which is in line
with the commission'spenchant
for initialisms, e.g. DRI, DCPC,
POCB, PHC (had enough?).
FPBconsistsoffivelawyersplus
the omnipresent Horsley-Wit-
ten Group (who abide poison
ponds), some surveyors,airport
commissionerDon Megathlin,a
HyannisChamberofCommerce
official, etc.
They claim to have consulted
30 applicants (supplicants?).
They issued a 17-page report
to the Task Force on Aug. 10.
Mr. Butler added his verbal
seasoning.
FPBcallsthe report "acandid,
honest appraisal based upon
the experience of individuals
and companies ...."That about
sums it up: an egocentric view
that the Commission should
serve the few and entrepre-
neurial.
Consider FPB's questions
CONTINUED ON PAGE A:11
By Michael Daley
coulumnist@barnstablepatriot .com
T
hings don't always go
according to our grand
plans. Several years ago
the real estate market started
taking off. For a while it seemed
as if there was no counterforce
that could stop it. Along with the
demand in the market , there was
demand for local zoning changes.
Local officials began to change
the zoning bylaws in downtown
Hyannis. This work began during
the early portion of the recent
period of property value run-up.
Over time, the re-zoning efforts
produced results.
Our new zoning regulations
now allow
residential
use on two
floors above
commercial
use at the
street level.
The tormer theater property at
the corner of Main Street and
Sea Street is an example of the
mixed use now allowed.
There are several mixed-use
projects scheduled for devel-
opment in Hyannis. Some are
visible already. The number of
residential units now planned
for the downtown area is very
interesting.
The dynamic of the demograph
ic change is the catalyst that
fascinates me. What will Hyannis
become? Will the community em-
brace the increased demands for
an urban lifestyle? Will the village
change at all? Will the grand plans
for Hyannis become just another
urban myth?
The theory of mixed use is
fairly common. It is very typi-
cal in urban areas. The property
uses are generally compatible.
The theory is the uses are some-
what symbiotic. The residential
use creates demand for commer-
cial uses.
Yet in Hyannis. we already
have one use conflicting with
another. One of a considerable
number of newer occupants re-
siding above a downtown bistro,
where a second enterprise has
yet to occupy the commercial
space at the street level, is of-
fended by the noise coming from
the evening entertainment ema-
nating from the establishment
below his unit.
This resident has filed a com-
plaint with the local licensing
authority. Hello, you bought a
condo in the heart of the action!
How do you do that and then
start to wine about the area's
nightlife intruding into your
personal life?
This is the first sign that per-
haps the grand plan for Hyannis
is not going perfectly. Now add
in the fact that we have all of
these projects on the drawing
board at a time when the real
estate market is slowing down.
One major project now in prog-
ress has recently hit some costly
unexpected complications.
The project' s site has more
contamination than was ex-
pected and budgeted. Now the
developer is looking for relief
from the commitment they made
to the town. There may now be
less affordable units than origi-
nally planned at this downtown
mixed use location.
The market will dictate when
and to the degree that our
downtown area will evolve. Given
the market' s tendency towards
cooler and slower, the changes
will most likely lag the timeline
originally envisioned. The next
five years will be telling for our
downtown.
Real estate investment and de-
velopment can't be forced. The
market dictates what happens
and when. The zoning changes
could have come sooner. They
didn't.
The hot real estate market
could have lasted longer. It
didn't,
A new Hyannis could still hap-
pen. Will it?
Not going
according to
plan(ning)