ERMA — Members of Lower Township’s Mayor Advisory Board, planning, zoning and environmental boards, Mayor Michael Beck, Deputy Mayor Kevin Lare and Township Manager Kathy McPherson took a bus tour of the County Airport Wed., Sept. 22 with representatives of Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) which operates the airport.
Beck said the tour was informational in reference to what direction the township would take for economic partnerships with DRBA.
“It’s the first step in a long, long journey,” he said.
The Mayor’s Advisory Board will examine recommendations from DRBA and report to Township Council. He said the township may consider forming an economic advisory board of the township’s “best and brightest,” for overall development of the township.
The overall goal would be jobs for residents, said the mayor.
Beck said this was the first time the Mayor’s Advisory Board reached out to DRBA.
The airport bus tour stopped at each building with a DRBA representative speaking of the contents and condition of each structure.
“This give us a sense of communication maybe we didn’t have last week at this time,” said Beck.
DRBA gave a PowerPoint presentation of the county airport business plan to tour members at the Erma Volunteer Fire Company Hall.
Airport issues from the PowerPoint:
• How to affect tourism?
• Significant building renovation
• Development of commercial hangars
• Attraction of corporate aviation
• Land use compatibility
• Environmental issues
The business plan notes the airport must work toward financial self-sufficiency. The baseline financial forecast predicts yearly revenue of $165,000 per year through 2013 with expenses averaging $550,000 per year indicating a yearly loss of $350,000 to $439,000.
The report notes obstacles to commercial growth including airport’s location, which makes transportation for industry difficult and the local high cost of real estate as a barrier to supplying low cost workers to the airport. The airport property also has environment issues.
Positive growth factors include the size of the airport and runway length and the $5.1 billion tourism industry in Cape May County with the most second homes in the state. The report notes excellent airside maintenance and upkeep.
Revenue alternatives cited included industrial park use, tourism development with Canadian air charter flights and on-airport tourist attractions.
For revenue enhancement, the plans recommends offering storage for RVs and boats, recruiting small business for industrial park and work to attract more itinerant business aviation.
Recommended enhancements for the airport include building 10 T-hangars and 15,000 square feet of conventional hangars, adjust hanger rates and fuel flow fees, seek avionics/corporate maintenance and obtain and evaluate Naval Air Station Wildwood Museum business plan and approach.
Other revenue enhancement recommendations include attracting non-aviation businesses such as linen/towel services, housekeeping/janitorial, vehicle storage, government agency use, a concrete plant and other tourism related activities.
DRBA accomplishments for the airport include significant leveraging of federal dollars for capital improvements since 1999:
• Total investment= $10.5 million
• Federal share= $10 million
• DRBA share= $488,968
• NJDOT participation=$38,716
Other accomplishments of DRBA: installation of fuel farm= $300,000, purchase of fixed base operator assets=$400,000, infrastructure such as water/sewer for hangars, renovation of Building 96 and working with Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority for development of water tower.
DRBA was represented by Deputy Executive Director Frank Minor and DRBA Director of Airport Operations Steve D. Williams.
Beck said both the township and DRBA seem committed to work towards a partnership. He said the tour had 30 persons representing the township, which shows a commitment to economic development at the airport.
A 2008 state Department of Transportation State Airport System Plan said the Cape May County Airport provided 216 jobs with a $ 6.1 million payroll and $14 million in economic benefits.
Lower Township Mayor’s Advisory Board consists of Larry Dalton, Tracey Donahue, Robert Girard, John Louderback, Lee Marcotte, Janet Pitts, Chairman Erik Simonsen, Jay Witmoyer, Al Flicroft and Colleen Hughes, recording secretary.
Wildwood – So Liberals here on spout off, here's a REAL question for you.
Do you think it's appropriate for BLM to call for "Burning down the city" and "Black Vigilantes" because…