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The much smaller attendance at the third Solberg Airport Information meeting was rivalled only by the lack of new information regarding the Master Planning effort. Granted, the final easel poster confirmed the foregone conclusion that the “preferred [development] alternative” matches the desire to develop a facility capable of hosting significantly larger and faster turbo jet aircraft! In our opinion, nothing has changed, including the airport owner’s desire to enrich themselves at public expense to transform quiet rural Readington Township into a home for corporate jet traffic.
Anyone in attendance anticipating an accurate answer to a question was probably disappointed also. The young man stationed by the final easel with the “preferred alternative” either could not or would not answer the question of what agency licenses privately owned public use airports, such as Solberg, in New Jersey. If you too are wondering, it is the Department of Transportation (DOT) according to N.J.A.C. 16-54 Licensing of Aeronautical Facilities. Additionally, to date, submitted written questions have NOT been responded to.
It has become clear that these Public Information Meetings offerer by the Airport Sponsors have not served either their stated or unstated purposes. Few knowledgable individuals have been available at the meetings to provide informed answers to questions and the “Public Hearing” aspect of the meetings has been non-existant. We fully expect the Airport Sponsors to claim these three information meetings as “Public Hearings”, an alternative permitted by the FAA in AC 150/5050-4A Community Involvement in Airport Planning. paragraph 3.3.3.2.2. Realistically, these meetings neither provided sufficient information to the public nor have they answered questions. Many aspects of the FAA recommended Community Outreach have not been addressed (read the FAA document!).
It is noteworthy that back on December 4, 2023 a citizen communicated with the Readinton Township Committee a request for an Open Public Hearing regarding the Solberg Master Plan after the first Informational Meeting was announced. It is on the agenda for December 4th and recorded in the video of the meeting.
Finally, paragraph 1.6.1 of AC 150/5050-4A (link above) states:
The need for community involvement is grounded in aviation law and FAA Order 5100.38, Airport Improvement Program Handbook which requires the Secretary of Transportation to only approve an application for an airport improvement grant when “It has given fair consideration to the interest of communities in or near where the project may be located.” When undertaking any airport improvement project, the sponsor must demonstrate “it has undertaken reasonable consultations with affected parties using the airport where the project is proposed.” For projects involving the location of an airport, an airport runway, or a major runway extension, there are specific outreach standards, including providing an opportunity for public hearings and other requirements.
At this time, with the Master Plan still incomplete and no reuest for Airport Improvement funding in the works, it would be premature for the public to communicate to the Secretary of Transportation the failings of the Solberg-Hunterdon Airport Sponsors regarding Community Involvement and long standing opposition. It is an action that should be undertaken at the appropriate time.