Saratoga County Airport expansion voted down

PHOTOGRAPHER: Stephen Williams

Saratoga County’s Buildings and Grounds Committee this afternoon voted down plans to expand runways at the county airport in Milton.

The proposal by consultants who are updating an airport master plan had drawn furious opposition from people who live in the neighborhoods around the airport, and more than 150 people crowded into the meeting room.

“The runway extension is dead in the water,” said committee Chairman Dan Lewza, R-Milton, following the vote.

He said the committee’s position is that no changes should be mandatory on private property near the runways ends — including the cutting of trees.

The Federal Aviation Administration, however, will still have the ability to order tree cutting if it is considered an aviation safety issue.

The committee voted 6-0 against supporting plans to extend the airport’s main runway either 300 feet or 800 feet, which would have required taking private property at the end of the runways.

“I thank you for voting no,” said David Burton, one of the residents crowding the room.

The Milton Town Board also passed a resolution opposing expansion of the runways.