City Council Approves Extending Craig Field Runway

By Beth Kormanik, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville

Jan. 9–The Jacksonville City Council Tuesday approved extending a runway at Craig Field, forcing Mayor John Peyton to face up to a campaign promise to veto such a move. Voting for the runway extension: Johnny Gaffney, Art Graham, Kevin Hyde, Jay Jabour, Mia Jones, Warren Jones, Stephen Joost, Denise Lee, Don Redman, Art Shad, Jack Webb

Voting against the runway extension: Bill Bishop, Richard Clark, Michael Corrigan, Daniel Davis, Ronnie Fussell, Ray Holt, Glorious Johnson, Clay Yarborough.

During the council’s debate, not one member argued for the extension. Still, the measure passed 11-8.

The margin actually was closer because Councilman Don Redman misvoted and his colleagues would not permit him to re-record the vote.

Promises from government officials have played a large part in the runway fight. The City Council in 2000 promised in a resolution not to extend Craig’s runways, as did the Jacksonville Port Authority when it controlled Craig. The city’s comprehensive plan also promises no extensions, and is the document that the Jacksonville Aviation Authority is seeking to change.

The council did pass amendments to modify the authority’s plans, including reducing the length of the extension. The extension would lengthen the 4,000-foot runway to 5,600 feet, slightly shorter than the 6,000 feet that originally sought.

Another change requires the authority to give up its eminent domain rights over homes that may experience excessive airplane noise.

The measure now goes to Peyton, who promised in his 2003 campaign to veto a Craig runway extension. Recently, though, his aides have abandoned that promise. If Peyton approves the plan, it would next go to the state Department of Community Affairs.

“We’ll see if his promise means anything more than what the council promised,” said John Daigle, a spokesman for the community effort against the runway.

The council’s decision came after a public hearing of nearly three hours that consisted largely of community opposition to the plan.

The aviation authority argued that a longer runway will make it safer for pilots to take off and land, especially as more planes use the airport. But neighbors rejected that argument. They believe the issue the aviation authority’s desire to better accommodate the lucrative business jet market, and worry about noise from larger planes.

“It’s clear this is the case and the airport authority has not had the integrity to admit it,” said Councilman Bill Bishop, whose district is home to Craig.

The council also had to weigh opposing political forces. State Sen. Jim King, R-Jacksonville, has spoken against the expansion. The head of Duval County’s Republican Party, John Falconetti, who also has sat on the aviation authority’s board, supports it.

After the meeting, Council President Daniel Davis said he voted against the extension because he helped lead a similar community fight on the Westside against returning Cecil Field to a Navy jet base.

But he would not call upon Peyton to exercise his veto.

“The policy body for the City of Jacksonville spoke,” Davis said. “I would leave it at that.”

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