The Leighton Township Pla
nning Commission Wednesday night had another hearing on a proposed air park near 144th Avenue and Kalamazoo Avenue, but the plan has been scaled back since it was presented originally.
Developer Clark Galloway earlier this year proposed an private air park for as many as 15 residences and 25 planes, but fierce opposition by nearby residents helped force him to scale back his plans. Residents in that neighborhood have insisted the air park would be noisy and intrusive on a rural residential area.
Kate Scheltema, who is co-owner of a horse farm near the proposed air park, appeared before the Township Board Thursday night and told board members she appreciates the smaller approach, but in some ways the new proposal is worse than the original one.
His first proposal was for a 3,000-foot strip to include about 15 residences with hangars for a special aviation residential community for as many as 25 planes. The revised proposal he has submitted since calls for a 2,100-foot landing strip 80 feet wide for a combined five aircraft.
Galloway’s partner is Township Supervisor Steve Deer, who has been careful not to vote on any of the issues regarding the development and he has restrained himself from public discussions.
The site already has a private air strip, associated for more than 40 years with the Martin family, including Brian Martin, former Leighton Township trustee, but the strip is co-owned by Bill Martin.
Other highlights from Galloway’s proposal, in the landing strip and operating area:
- FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) classification as “private use only.”
- Existing adjacent airplane hangar buildings for owners and renters.
- On-site EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved fuel storage.
- Surrounding pavement around hangars with access to northwest end of air strip.
- Access to and from rural residential lots with shared private driveway by lot owners/guests.
Under the heading “aircraft operations and limitations:
- Invited guests with maximum 10-day annual overnight parking.
- Maximum aircraft size of 4,000 pounds, dry weight.
- Night takeoffs limited to before 10:30 p.m.
The Planning Commission will have another meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at which time Sheltema said she would like to have a hired aviation expert present information. The commission will meet again at 7 p.m. March 18, but no business will be conducted on the air park that night.
