This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

C4BG Responds to Call for Briscoe Privatization

For 20 years Gwinnett government has encouraged residential development in the flight path. Now government want home owners to bear the negative impact to their home values?

The following is the response of Citizens for a Better Gwinnett member Jim Regan to a recent editorial by Benita Dodd mentioned in . Mr. Regan is a blogger for Dacula Patch.

Ms. Dodd:

As one of the leaders of the group opposing Briscoe expansion (Citizens for a Better Gwinnett) I want you to note you are omitting many negative facts.

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

The 9,000 foot runway is not overkill. It provides two things, a margin of safety if a take-off must be aborted or if a plane overshoots the landing and two the ability for a plane to take off with adequate fuel, passenger load, and luggage.  For economic profitability, weight must be maximized.

The FAA requires the sponsoring entity (Gwinnett County) to continue the operation of the airport if the private operator should fail. This requirement would place responsibility on Gwinnett taxpayers for any residual debt should the private operator fail. In the 15 year history of the FAA Privatization program, only one airport has completed the conversion process, Stewart Airport in New York. When the operator failed, the State of New York had to reacquire the airport at more than twice the cost it sold the airport for three years later.  Total cost to New York taxpayers: $113 Million.

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

has no experience operating airports. They have no contracts with airlines to operate from Briscoe. We have contacted all the major airlines, they have no interest in Briscoe. As a matter of fact, most airlines are grounding planes and reducing flights. The airline industry is not a dynamic, stable, growing industry. The odds of this expansion being successful are questionable and very risky.

No one has said aircraft would be limited to 737s. It just won't be regional jets as airlines are grounding this fleet due to high operating costs.

Briscoe is only 500 acres, if approved it would be one of the 20 smallest airports in the United States. Professionals in the airport management field have told me it would be very difficult to operate that small of an airport. 

Approximately 68,000 residents live within three miles of Briscoe and would be impacted.  For 20 years Gwinnett government has encouraged residential development in the flight path. Now government want home owners to bear the negative impact to their home values?  Downtown Lawrenceville is 1.5 miles from the runway.  A major regional medical center, two colleges, and a dozen schools are in the flight path.

I could probably provide 50 other negative facts and would be happy to meet with you to provide documents to support what's in my email.

I'm sure it is not the intent of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation to provide misleading information but I don't think you have all the facts.  I would like equal time, because you have shown a one-sided picture.

Jim Regan

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?