Officials discuss closing airport

The elephant in the room soon might be extinct.

State legislators have taken the preliminary steps to allow UNC officials to close the Horace Williams Airport — in effect removing a major hurdle in the effort to break ground on Carolina North.

Under a provision in the state budget, UNC can relocate N.C. Area Health Education Centers to Raleigh-Durham International Airport to clear space for the proposed development.

Planners have maintained that the most effective use of the 963-acre Horace Williams tract requires that the airport be removed, and created a seven-phase plan reflecting that notion.

“It was laid out in a fashion that was not compatible with an airport,” said Tony Waldrop, vice chancellor for research and economic development.

The legislation marks a significant change in policy makers’ stance.

In 2002, UNC officials moved to close the facility but the General Assembly countered with a provision mandating that the airport remain open until 2005.

Last year a provision in the state budget forced the airport to stay open indefinitely until a site could be located for AHEC.

Although the budget is far from complete, Moeser said he is hopeful this year’s provision will be adopted.

“The essential difference and what would we like to have come out of this General Assembly is to have the legislature trust the University to make this decision so that the airport is in our hands,” he said.

But a national organization has already expressed concern about what Moeser’s wish would mean.

Members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, based in Maryland, have been e-mailing Moeser protesting the potential closing.

The group has almost 10,000 North Carolina members and has been effective in lobbying state officials to keep to airport open in the past.

Despite these efforts, UNC officials are wasting little time in moving forward with Carolina North discussions.

The provision puts a greater spotlight on next Thursday’s Board of Trustees meeting at which officials will outline plans for Carolina North for the first time in months.

Waldrop said he expects the presentation to focus on the importance of the development, namely the need for space and the ability to partner with companies and boost the state economy.

The airport will be another key topic of discussion.

Moeser said the group will examine potential sites for the airport and planners will explain the entire process to the trustees.

Moeser said it took almost an hour and a half for consultants to show him their most recent work.

“This is going to be an intense downloading of information and discussion,” he said, noting that trustees will be shown the “guts and feathers.”

“I don’t think our board will even be able to digest it fully in one board meeting.”

The board is not scheduled to take any action on the development at the meeting.

With the airport situation becoming much clearer, Moeser and Waldrop said it’s time to focus on selling the concept for Carolina North to the public.

“We can’t even get to first base if we don’t make that fundamental argument,” Moeser said.

Several questions still must be ironed out before any construction.

Waldrop said the next key component is focusing on complex zoning questions for the tract as well as transportation issues.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.