WOOSE Report on the Ohio State University Airport
The Ohio State University has announced plans to expand their Don
Scott Field airport. Concerns from local citizens over the airport's
transition into a corporate jet gateway as well as existing noise
problems led to these reports.
Volume 2 Supplement: Implications of the Don Scott Field Plans, September 2006
On July 5th WOOSE released a 52 page report on the implications of OSU's plans for the Don Scott Field Area surrounding their airport. University representatives have called the report inaccurate and misleading.
After being challenged to back their criticism of the report, OSU has issued a two page response.
While we appreciate that OSU's response acknowledged some of the report's recommendations, overall we found their response to be incomplete and in some cases inaccurate.
Therefore, we have published this supplement to our July report containing OSU's response and our comments to clarify or amplify the issues originally raised.
While the noise issues at the airport are important, they the are not the only issues worthy of consideration. There are larger issues of land use and management that should be of interest to all Ohio taxpayers, not just those concerned about the airport or development of the land surrounding it.
Volume 2: Implications of the Don Scott Field Plans, July 2006
This report is a follow up to the February 2005 report (below) and considers the implications of OSU's plans for the Don Scott Field Area surrounding the airport. Findings of this report include:
- Don Scott Field properties have lost $6.8 million in market value over three years, some properties losing more than 30% of their value.
- The University has operating leases through the year 3000. The longest known lease held by any other state university is 40 years.
- OSU Airport, one of the busiest in the state, has operated without an approved business plan since it went public in 1959.
- Existing OSU plans demonstrate a failure to adequately consider community impacts, including suggestions for "flex/warehouse" north of the airport and plans for "the implementation of an aggressive airport business development strategy."
- OSU's attempts to use FAA funding to acquire the former Ohio National Guard hangar (now home to MedFlight and others) may violate U.S. law.
- OSU may have violated government accounting standards by not disclosing its relationship with MedFlight, including interest-free loans OSU has provided to MedFlight.
- The FAA has found OSU in violation of 20% of Federal Airport Improvement Grant regulations. These violations may prove costly to the State of Ohio and in particular ODOT.
- OSU's failure to plan and coordinate with neighbors has caused communities surrounding the airport to waste significant amounts of time and resources second-guessing what OSU might do.
Volume 1: February 2005
This report covers nearly every aspect of current airport
operations as well as the impact an expanded airport will have on
local communities. Among the reports major findings are:
- An expanded airport will decrease property values and tax revenues.
- Studies describing the economic benefit of the airport are flawed and likely overestimate its contributions to the economy.
- OSU studies and plans have incorrect assumptions, results, and internal inconsistencies.
- Existing problems with the airport are not being addressed. This and expanded future operations have and will continue to lead to a diminished quality of life for local residents.
- The airport suffers chronic failures in basic management and financial procedures and planning.
- The role of the airport does not fit into the University's academic mission.
Report Availability
Both volumes of the report may be downloaded from the links above.
To read the report on-line you will need to download a free copy of Adobe
Acrobat Reader.
Copies are also available at Ready Reference desk in
the following libraries:
Please contact info@woose.org with
any questions or comments you have concerning this report.
