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There are 124 comments total.
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cross road to Middle Bay Road |
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I am opposed to the proposed road access across the lower portion of the reuse and redevelopment of the BNAS that would have traffic exiting or entering on the Middle Bay Road/Harpswell Road side. I believe this will be an invitation to "cut through" and cause unnecessary congestion in that area. It will also compromise that area which has been designated as Recreation/Open Space. |
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Another golf course???? |
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At first I was skeptical when I read throught the proposals, but felt better after reading the latest proposal. I do have some misgivings about a resort hotel and a new golf course. Why does Brunswick need a new golf course? Who is the golf course for? Is it going to be public or private? I have a feeling that there are some special interest groups behind this part of the plan and they do not involve the general population of Brunswick. Who is going to stay in this hotel and use a convention center if we do not bring businesses to the area. I like the idea of the business/industrial park concept. I do know of a case in North Carolina where a DOD base was closed and they develpoed the biggest indutrial park in the state and they have yet to bring in anything for over 10 years!
We need to concentrate on the issues that affect the majority of our citizens and not just the select few with "special interests" and money. We need jobs and to come up with ways to entice companies to come to our beautiful community. |
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incentives to companies? |
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I have looked thru the proposed plans and they are all good well thought out plans. The question I have is "Has there been any type of incentive type programs offered to companies?" What companies have been offered TRUE incentive opportunities to help create the proposed plans? I mean TRUE incentive, offers that would ensure the companies growth and the community. I lived in the Seacoast NH area when Pease closed and going onto what was the base now is impressive. But for years after closing the joke was it was the Presidents driveway. I believe the first company to move in there was Red Dog Brewery, not because it was the best place to distribute beer. Because it was the best place at the time to make money. Companies are not going to be attracted to Maine or to stay in Maine to spend money they will come to make money.
So have companies like:
Bath Iron Works
Dead River Fuel
Downeast Energy
Portland Airport
Fed Ex
AMTRAK
Basically any company that could use and amplify the assets and resources? that BNAS has.
Have they been offered TRUE incentive offers that would ensure the companies growth and the community?
Maine ranked 48 in states to do business in, I strongly feel that the future of BNAS could change that if companies and businesses where offered strong growth potential opportunities. Economic growth is desperately needed in Maine at all levels, if that can be accomplished by options like tax breaks and break even land leases. If they are going to give more employment options and increase the quality of life for the community than attractive corporate offers should be made.
Example --- If ?COMPANY X? can provide 2000 good paying jobs and is willing to take on obligations such EPA clean ups and can do that by operating from 1 hangar and 100 acres. If COMPANY X does that than COMPANY X should be able to make money and receive generous tax breaks.
Good for the community, Good for COMPANY X.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, I have wanted to provide this input since I left the military in 2005.
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More low income housing? |
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I fully recognize that many people are truly in need of low-income housing. Those of us that work hard for the homes we have and would like to purchase a second home for income property or those who are just under the threshhold for being able to afford a traditional home mortage should be given first preference along with veterans and retirees. Bath and Brunswick has MORE than ample low income housing, and the influx of an even higher population of people who refuse to pay into the system but want everything they can get FROM the system is ridiculous. I am now considering selling my home once the market restabilizes. |
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projects retrofit avionics |
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thru commercialization of industry & gov'mt. airport size & scope to utililize existing location for on-board aircraft retrofit of multi-national aircraft for digital datalink mixed capabilities in a single technology INTEROP standard deployment. Aircraft being domestic and abroad based may require
local national with mimic elements of established service providers in common
continental applications, vis a vis international standard retrofit capabilities.
As a participant currently in the international SARPS communications establishment - rule making member I feel a consideration
of well editorialized peer review of such a possibility in this area of technology may find a good home at NBAS possible future enhancement of keen professionals and local citizen commercializtion possibilities..
potential divergence issues in this field
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| Title: |
projects retrofit avionics |
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thru commercialization of industry & gov'mt. airport size & scope to utililize existing location for on-board aircraft retrofit of multi-national aircraft for digital datalink mixed capabilities in a single technology INTEROP standard deployment. Aircraft being domestic and abroad based may require
local national with mimic elements of established service providers in common
continental applications, vis a vis international standard retrofit capabilities.
As a participant currently in the international SARPS communications establishment - rule making member I feel a consideration
of well editorialized peer review of such a possibility in this area of technology may find a good home at NBAS possible future enhancement of keen professionals and local citizen commercializtion possibilities..
potential divergence issues in this field
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Dog park |
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As regular walkers with our two dogs and always on the lookout for a place to congregate with other dog owners, we thought that a dog park might be a good addition to the reuse of the base. It could take many forms (paths, fields, fenced or not, "play" equipment), could be maintained with volunteer help and fees from users, would take pressure off other areas in town and would benefit dogs and owners alike. We have "googled" many dog parks and have seen how varied they are - from very controlled to very natural. Our two girls give paws up to the idea. |
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Aviation/aeronautics education |
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A number of years ago, I worked in Champaign, IL home of Willard Field, one of the busiest airports in the country, busy because of frequent touch-downs by students of the Aviation Institute of the University of Illinois. The U. of I. is a state university that grants diplomas at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
My suggestion is that the LRA considers suggesting to the proper authorities in Augusta that the University of Maine partner with a private firm to become the Institute of Aviation for New England, thus drawing on students from all of the states that are party to the Interstate Compact on Higher Education and bringing students from all over New England to BNAS for Aviation Studies in Brunswick -- certainly contributing to the local business community.
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Aviation reuse |
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In the final two scenerios is it recommended that there be an aviation reuse ? Is it in just one scenerio, both or neither. I would like to make the meeting tomorrw but I have a Planning Board conflict. Is there a place to go and view the final two proposals?
Thanks for your time. |
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Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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I feel the panel is doing an excellent job in determining the fate of the BNAS property.
I also feel the community must focus on preNAS property in attracting businesses and jobs to our community in any manner possible. As a local business owner I'm worried about the 6 or 7 years betwen the NAS personell leaving and new attractions bringing families shopping at my shop.
The housing will be ample so if we bring new businesses in we can fill the empty housing with employees. Otherwise, subsidized housing will drain our coffers and really change the face of our fine community. |
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airport reuse |
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Good Morning Steve and the Committee
I understand that the development committee will decide whether or not to continue an airport use for the BNAS.
I request that you not re use the BNAS as an airport for the following reasons.
? The base splits the town, and would continue to split the town if it continues in use.
? The type of business that an airport use would bring to Brunswick would be minimal at best, and prevent other better opportunities.
? An airport uses up far too much of the land resources, and would not serve our community well, and would be very disruptive to other uses.
Respectfully submitted,
Arnie Standish
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The non-airport option |
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I would like to place my vote for the non-airport option presented at the August public meeting. I do not think that keeping the airport because the runway is there is justifiable. The airport and related land use in your R-1 option take up 22% of the land. The runways effectively block the best east-west Brunswick transportation connections proposed in your other plans. This connection would be a vital link bringing the entire Town of Brunswick together around a vital new community that would balance residential, commercial, civic and recreational/open space needs. I have visited a number of successful redevelopment websites where the aviation elements were removed during the planning process. At Lowry in Colorado and The Naval Training Center in Orlando, runways were removed and the concrete recycled and used as road base and for other construction related needs. At Lowry the goal was to totally change the image of the base: ?We felt we needed to change the image of Lowry from an Air Force base to a community where people live, learn, work, and play as quickly as possible. To do this we subscribed to the ?Big Bang Theory.? That is, in order to reverse decades of military occupation you just can?t chip away at the edges to change the image, instead you need an explosion of activity. Our first mission was to demolish obsolete buildings and runways and replace aging utilities?
It is tempting to rely on the aviation component of the base to foster future growth, but it is possible to place a new face on the base and work towards creating a balanced growth plan that focuses on attracting small and medium sized, "new-technology" businesses who are drawn to Brunswick and Maine for its quality of life and beautiful environment. The aviation uses will have significant environmental impacts that could effect the attractiveness and livability of the Town of Brunswick, all keys to successful redevelopment. A majority of the uses proposed in the plans are not compatible with adjoining aviation uses and the noise and other environmental disturbances associated with this industry. The Bowdoin College campus, housing, open space recreation, etc., would be impacted by noise from aircraft landing and takeoff, engine maintenance,etc. The Lowry and Orlando models of non-aviation redevelopment would offer the best planning solution to the Greater Brunswick area.
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Why a jetport? |
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I am concerned over the plans which include using the airfield for a jet port. I know that the plans are for private and corporate jet storage and maintenance. This is concerning for me on several levels. First is the noise impact. I live in the fight path of the airfield. We are somewhat accustom to the P3 flyovers. While they are loud, they don't reverberate for long and are not as ear piercing as jets. At times, there is jet traffic from BNAS. When this happens, the noise lasts for much longer and disrupts our household. We are unable to even carry on conversation with each other or over the telephone until the jet is long gone. The noise begins before we can see the jet and lingers long after the jet is out of sight. Our animals are quite disturbed by the sounds of the jet as well. We are in farm and forest 3 - should be allow jets to disturbed our rather rural location?
Second, I am VERY concerned about the economic impact. We should not be supporting any business proposal that requires such significant state subsidy. There is no money to be made supporting any type of air travel. I would venture to guess that it won't be long before even the corporations begin to ground their jets due to the rising costs of fuel. Fuel prices will only continue to go up. When BNAS becomes a graveyard for old corporate and private jets, what then? We not only do not have an economic gain, but we have an environmental disaster in our community and so close to the shoreline!
Finally, I believe that we will not see significant increase in jobs as a result of allowing this jetport plan to go through. I see a greater employment and economic gain from other businesses that cater to tourist and local use rather that a jetport idea that caters to a few corporations and private individuals.
We need to consider the use of the land for open space, Public Access Park and intelligent, anti-sprawl design. We?d be better off having a resort, maybe a casino, and a public garden, part and beach. The gardens, park, resort and casino will bring in a significant number of jobs and provide opportunities for locals and tourists to engage in recreational pastimes.
Thank you for your time!
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Continued Aviation use |
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It's my understanding that the BLRA will be making decisions this week regarding continued aviation use of the Naval Air Station property. I have read the Aviation Feasibility studies and remain unconvinced that continued aviation use is in the best interests of Brunswick or the surrounding area.
My particular issues involve noise and economics. Both are addressed in the studies, but neither, in my mind, is addressed adequately.
Noise:
My home is just south of the Naval Air Station and underneath the glide path, on some approaches, for outboard runway (1L/ 19R). I knew that when I bought my home, but at the time had no reason to believe the aviation use would change dramatically. I have found the level of activity from NAS to be generally acceptable, except during the evening and overnight hours. At those times, noise from engine tests or idling airplanes makes it unpleasant to sit outside on our porch or in our hot tub.
The aviation feasibility studies go to great length in Section 5 to explain the various ways commonly used to evaluate airport noise, and what the different terms represent. Of special interest are the DNL and Leq measurements. The DNL measurements are a derived measure that accounts for the time of day and the annoyance factor of continuing sound levels. These measurements (calculations, really) generally assign a perceived noise level much higher than the measured levels at a particular time.
On page 5-14, the study then evidently uses simple point measurements of sound levels and a Navy model to determine a 65dB noise contour around the base. The contour evidently does not reflect DNL noise level calculations. The study also presumes a civilian aviation noise level contour of much smaller size. That reduced size could be valid if the use were small airplanes like the Cessna 172. If even small commercial jets are involved, the reduced contour does not appear to be a reasonable assumption. Those sorts of airplanes fly in and out of the Naval Air Station on occasion now, and I can tell you they are very loud indeed. Not every airplane using the facility would be an Eclipse 500 such as the report describes!
The report also notes that no restrictions can be placed on the use of the airfield or its hours of operation, and that it would be expected to generate about a third more traffic every day. I am very concerned about possible flight operations based solely on perceived profits to the tenant companies, with no regard to people living (and sleeping) in the surrounding area.
Economics:
While I operate a micro-business myself, and support the activities of my fellow businesspeople in Brunswick and the surrounding area, I question the assumptions of the feasibility study on the economic impact of continued aviation use. I first see a lot of assumptions about the intentions of high paying tenants to move there. Maybe they will, and maybe they won?t. If they do, they will expect the town to maintain the runways and aprons in as good condition as they will be when we receive them. It might well take 15 years before ?major? improvements are needed, but that will depend on regular and expensive ongoing maintenance in the meantime. If the report?s projections are correct, the facility will lose money for about half the time before we need major repairs, and after that is when things get dramatically more expensive -- when major repairs are required.
If I remember rightly, 15 years is also the time frame for needing to spend several millions to close our landfill, and perhaps build a new high school. I see no evidence of any planning on how that will all be accomplished. I see just a blind faith in the notion that a nice runway there today means wonderful riches for all forever. I urge that you not get caught up in the fever and think about these issues some more.
Alternatives:
While several companies and fixed base operators have evidently said they would consider a move to the former NAS property, we certainly have no firm commitments. It?s not reasonable to expect any five or six years from the time of any proposed move. If the BLRA decides to move forward with an aviation option, my hope is that it remain only an option. Before we commit to any contracts, we really must have a better noise profile based on DNL calculations, we really do need more firm commitments from potential tenants, and we need to know how we are going to maintain the facility in the long term.
I personally see no great advantage to continued aviation at that site. What I do see is a lot of concrete that could be better used other ways. All of the plans at the recent meeting, for example, showed about ten acres for an ?Energy Park?. I suggest that?s useless. An energy R & D company could locate anywhere on the site and do its work as well as it can in a designated Energy Park. What makes a lot more sense is to generate clean power on-site to supply the entire facility.
Experience in the western U.S. suggests that the area encompassed by the outboard runway alone could be expected to generate upwards of 10MW of electricity annually, and both runways together might generate more than is now being taken off the grid by the Navy. Using a very large array of concentrating solar collectors and some co-generation techniques, we could provide a meaningful contribution to renewable energy in Maine. Such a use would not require removal of the existing runway surfaces. In fact, they would make the whole thing easier.
The mere existence of the Navy?s runways does not mean either that they must be used, or that continued aviation uses are a good thing. I am an aviator myself, but there is life beyond airplanes!
Thanks for listening!
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Middle Bay Road |
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We were also unable to attend the August 2nd meeting, but we are also VERY concerned about the possibility of Middle Bay Road and/ or Mere Point becoming four-lane roads. These are residential streets and are used by many for walking and biking. Because Rte. 123 is so heavily travelled, and most vehicles go faster than the speed limit, Middle Bay Road is the only road many in this area have to walk and bike on. Many children wait along these roads for the school bus.
Please, please go back the drawing board and find a better solution.
Thank you.
Sheryl and Paul Nadell |
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Some Park and Garden space |
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It's great to see so much input from people about the re-use of the base. We should keep in mind that, if Brunswick is going to grow into a populous urban center, with businesses and smart growth and the comprehensive plan dictating infill of existing green spaces, the town will need more parks and recreation areas, passive and active, than it now has.
Green space has been proven to have a positive effect on human beings. The Park and Gardens plan offers a real contribution to our quality of place and of life. Walking in a park is exercise that can benefit all age groups and fitness levels. The beauty of a garden is a great way to alleviate the stress caused by working at one of those high-powered jobs the base will be attracting.
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Middle Bay Road |
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We will be out of town and unable to attend the Aug. 2 LRA meeting, so I am writing this note for your consideration.
It our my understanding that there is a possibility that Middle Bay Rd will be made into a 4 lane road in order to provide greater access to the southern entrance to the former BNAS when it is vacated. We are very opposed to this happening from Mere Point Rd to Harpswell Rd/Rte 123. It may be necessary from Harpswell Rd. east to the base southern entrance, but not the forementioned section. To get to Brunswick and points north and west from the southern entrance, it would make sense to use State Route 123/ Harpswell Rd. That road is already designed as a major route and could be expanded, if necessary.
Middle Bay Rd. from Harpswell Rd/Rte. 123 to Mere Point Rd. is all residential properties. Many people use it to bike and walk, and becoming a major thoroughfare would hinder their using this road and increase safety concerns for the bikers and walkers.
Thank you for your time and effort on the LRA and for taking our opinion into consideration.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth and Michael Connelly |
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Stop distrusting outsiders |
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Im a young, 27 year old, recently graduated from college. It has been a lifelong dream of mine to move to Maine. I went to Brunswick for a job interview recently and the interviewer seemed completely dumbfounded that I would want to move to Brunswick. He specifically said several times in the interview, "I don't understand why you would want to move here." It was as if I was not trusted simply because I was from outside the state, and especialy because I had a deep desire to actually live and work in Brunswick.
I hear all this talk about young people leaving Maine, about how Brunswick needs young professionals, and how can the town can attract young people to the area.
Let me make these suggestions: 1. stop distrusting outsiders and 2. realize what a nice place that Brunswick is.
That way, you won't scare off young people. |
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Wind Generator Construction |
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Wind generators fall into the areas of both energy AND environment. I have preached on this subject elsewhere. Furthermore, I have just returned from Scandinavia where a farm of 17 HUGE wind generators operate off the coast near Copenhagen, just one of many wind farms In Denmark. Only a few miles across the Oresund from Copenhagen lies the Swedish city of Malmoe; another and even larger wind farm is under construction there, even as I type.
It may well be that the offshore winds of MidCoast Maine are not economically suited to wind farming. It may even be that NIMBY resistance, in the name of the environment, THEIR environment, might halt the offshore construction of wind generators.
Nothwithstanding! Wind power generation is here to stay.
The Spanish Company which is now bidding to acquire CMP is heavily involved with wind generation in its own country. It is also connected to a Spanish company that is building and assembling wind generators in Pennsylvania for the American market.
As an aggressive economic developer, cannot the organization that eventually succeeds the LRA in the implementational phase of BRAC not reach out to such companies, OR to an American company like GE, OR to the Danish Company that is experienced in building wind generators in Scandinavia to entice it to locate in one of the soon to be available BNAS hangars?
This might also tie in with the composite industry which has already expressed an interest in locating at BNAS.
There's nothing like symbiosis!
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economic development now and l |
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Let's focus on the near future as well as 2012-when we're supposed to take over the property. As a local retail business man, I'm quite worried about the next 5 years.
Lets focus on new jobs now so the economic impact is less over the many years of uncertainity. Larry |
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