"every dollar invested in new rail capacity can deliver 5 to 10 times as much capacity as a dollar invested in new highway capacity," -- Senator Kay Bailey Hitchison (R, TX) 2/7/01

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[Note: Those passages and sections that the AMCT feels deserve special scrutiny are highlighted in red. AMCT comments on the text are highlighted in blue]

Land Use and Infrastructure Committee Report:

The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, BEDC, established an Airport Steering Committee to look into long range plans to improve and promote the Monroe County Airport. The Land Use and Infrastructure subcommittee was established to investigate airport surrounding land uses and make recommendations for infrastructure improvements. Due to the existence of a master plan for the airport commissioned by the Monroe County Board of Aviation this subcommittee focused it's [SIC] attention on the area surrounding the airport rather than the airport itself.

The Land Use and Infrastructure Subcommittee met several times during the fall of 2001 and winter of 2002. During these meetings, the committee interviewed Bill Williams the county highway engineer, Bob Cowell the county planning director and Bruce Payton the manager of the Monroe County Airport. During these interviews, Bill Williams brought the committee up to date on the progress of both state and local roadway construction projects. Bob Cowell explained the land use and zoning issues and Bruce Payton explained the airports long range plans for the land the airport currently owns and is in the process of purchasing.

The Land Use and Infrastructure Subcommittee established three goals for the final recommendations to the committee as a whole. The first was to make recommendations regarding appropriate land uses on the approaches to the runways and adjacent properties to the airport. The second goal was to recommend infrastructure improvements that will enhance the convenience of using the airport. The third goal was to prioritize the implementation of these improvements and to provide estimated construction cost of the proposed projects.

Land Use-Zoning
There is a nation wide trend of residential uses encroaching into the area of airport operations. This trend has caused conflicts between the two uses resulting in airports being closed and/or relocated at extreme public expense. This is starting to occur near the Monroe County Airport with the development of the Fieldstone Subdivision [By BEDC member Smith Neubecker] as well as the new elementary school and adjoining subdivision on Endwright Road. For this reason the committee is recommending that short and long range planning be pursued to put into place zoning that would promote noise tolerant uses. The areas of specific concern are the approach ends of the runways and the areas within a one-half mile rectangular area under the down wind leg of each runway. (See Figure No. 1)

When considering land uses for this area uses that would enhance the viability of the airport should be included. Examples would include manufacturing, aviation education facilities, restaurants, hotel and convention center to name a few. During Bob Cowell's interview, he explained the process required to achieve this goal and provided an outline that is included in Appendix "A" of this report.

Several large parcels of vacant land exist to the east of the airport as well as the east side of Kirby Road. [One forty-acre parcel directly adjacent to the airport is owned by BEDC member Crider and Crider, the Fieldstone subdivision is being marketed by BEDC member Smith Neubecker] These are prime locations for future development that should be considered for zoning changes. Another parcel of land that has development potential because all utilities are in place and has relatively level topography is the property south of the County Highway Garage and west of the County Fairgrounds. As part of a very long-range plan, it may be conceivable to utilize this ground more effectively and find another location for the fairgrounds. (See Figure No. 1)

In order for any of this ground to be developed the Karst Ordinance and long-term storm water detention must be provided. The Monroe County Board of Aviation is in the process of studying these issues and implementing the necessary measures. This committee encourages a unified and comprehensive plan to be implemented as part of the land use plan for the airport.

Infrastructure:
The second goal of the committee was to make infrastructure recommendations to enhance the use of the airport. Access to the airport has increasingly become more difficul due to the congestion on SR 48. Bill Williams's information regarding imminent roadway projects led the subcommittee to the realization that with three infill roadway projects a western by-pass could be put into effect. This by-pass would provide relief to SR 48 as well as to provide efficient access from the airport to SR 46, SR 37 North, SR 37 South, SR 45 and SR 48 and the industrial and commercial uses they contain. (See Figure No. 2)

Specifically the Indiana Department of Transportation is in the process of bidding the widening of SR 48 from Curry Pike west to Oard Road with the realignment of Kirby Road with Hartstraight Road as an intersection improvement. The State is also in the same process of an intersection improvement and pavement widening of SR 45 at Airport Road providing safer and more convenient access to SR 45. The State is in the final construction phase of the SR 46 interchange improvement at SR 37. The Monroe County Commissioners are under construction of the widening of Curry Pike from the GE plant north to Woodyard Road. They have funded the next phase of this project that will extend Curry Pike from Woodyard Road northeast to connect with the SR 46-SR 37-interchange project mentioned above. A pending county TIFF district proposal carries the Curry Pike extension north to Acuff Road. An existing county TIFF district has already improved Vernal Pike, Loesch Road, Profile Parkway and is in the planning stages of widening Wayne's Lane and the connector to Park 48 industrial park. With the addition of three projects, a complete western by-pass and access to the airport can be accomplished.

The first project is the extension of Tapp Road from Leonard Springs Road west to the proposed new intersection of SR 45 at Airport Road. The second is the construction of a radial curve from westbound Airport Road to northbound Kirby Road. This new alignment needs to take into account the possible extension of runway 24 if this is thought to be a possibility. The third project consists of connecting Hartstraignt Road north of SR 48 heading northeasterly to connect with Loesch Road at Northwest Park Industrial Park. Figure 2 illustrates these existing and proposed projects and the connectivity that they create.

The committee also believes that an enhanced entrance to the airport should be considered. The ideas include a boulevard entering from SR 48 south to the current entrance to the airport.

The committee wanted to note that water and sewer utilities exist both on the airport as well as in Kirby Road. As projects develop, these utilities can be extended as required. At some time in the future the regional lift station located at the fairgrounds may need to have it's pumps upgraded to handle increased flow. It should also be noted that two force mains were installed to service this lift station for future growth and should be able to handle anticipated flows for many years to come.

Priorities and Construction Cost Estimates:

The third goad of the subcommittee was to establish time lines and construction cost estimates for the zoning and roadway improvements. The following is a discussion on each item in detail:

• We recommend that the Monroe County Planning Department commence an update to the Growth Policy Plan for the airport and surrounding area that eliminates or reduces the possibility of noise sensitive uses from being constructed within a reasonable radii of the airport and include the approach ends of the runways extended.
• We recommend that the Monroe County Planning Department, Plan Commission and County Commissioners use the updated Growth Policy Plan to develop zoning uses appropriate for this area and adopt the resulting zoning map to meet the goals set out above.
• We recommend that the Monroe County Highway Engineer, Monroe County Plan Commission and the County Commissioners modify the Master Thoroughfare Plan to incorporate the three new roadway connections listed above as primary arterials. In addition the entire route from Tapp Road at SR 37 west to Kirby Road North and Northeast to SR 46 at SR 37 should be classified as primary arterial to allow for an increase roadway cross section. (Please note that part of this alignment is currently denoted on the master Thoroughfare Plan and will not require adjustment.)
• Construct the Tapp Road extension from Leonard Springs to SR 45 after completion of the InDOT project at SR 45 and Airport Road. This will allow for an alternative access to and from the airport from the South side of the city and county. Approximate construction cost is $1,920,000.00 for the 3300-foot segment with a four lane urban section.
• Construct extension from Hartstraight Road just north of SR 48 Northeasterly to Northwest Industrial Park at Enterprise Court. This should be considered for construction as the vacant property is developed. An alternative would be to widen Vernal Pike from Hartstraight Road east to Northwest Industrial Park. The cost of the new alignment is approximately $3,162,500.00 for the 5500-foot extension. This construction cost could be partially offset by development of the area adjoining the new roadway. The alternate of widening Vernal Pike would be approximately $1,430,000.00 for the 5300-foot length.
• Construct a radial curve at the intersection of Airport Road and Kirby Road. The new curve should be designed and constructed when it is determined what is to happen to runway 24. If runway 24 is not to be extended the new curve could be constructed near the existing intersection for an estimated cost of $1,150,000.00. If runway 24 is extended the amount of construction would longer and would therefore cost approximately $2,932,500.00 for approximately 5100-feet of new road.
• Widen Kirby Road to four lanes in a boulevard configuration from the north end of the radial curve mentioned above to SR 48. The approximately 7500-feet of construction is estimated to cost $4,312,500.00. This project should be considered when levels of service fall below level D or E. It is also contemplated that the entrance to the airport would be relocated to line up with Gifford Road with this construction.
• Widen Tapp Road from SR 37 west to Leonard Springs Road to four lanes with left turn lanes as required. The approximate cost of construction would be $840,000.00.
• Widen Airport Road from SR 45 west to Kirby Road to four lanes with left turn lanes as required. The approximate cost of construction would be $900,000.00.

• Appendix A, Robert Cowell's Meeting Notes Dated November 14th, 2001
• Figure 1, Land Use Map
• Figure 2, Infrastructure