Wanted in airport hearing: new ideas

As they hash out the future of Albert Whitted Airport, St. Petersburg officials hope to hear from those who have so far remained silent.

By BRYAN GILMER, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 30, 2003

ST. PETERSBURG -- Council members hope a public hearing today about the future of Albert Whitted Airport will bring some fresh ideas to the debate.

But they're prepared if the hearing turns into a replay of ideas heard repeatedly the past two years.

"We're going to be very strict on time," Council chairman Earnest Williams said. "I'm going to ask that if someone has already spoken their sentiment and they can acknowledge that without having to say the same thing, that would be very helpful."

The public hearing begins at 4 p.m. at City Hall. It could be lengthy, and the most vocal activists in the debate are likely to repeat their views.

But anyone can speak, and the council also hopes to hear from residents who so far have remained silent.

"I think other people are going to come in and say we want a shot at a one-runway airport or even no airport," Council member Virginia Littrell said. "I got a comment from a group of folks the other day who said the council was too eager to take the full redevelopment off the table."

The airport has remained virtually unchanged for decades on more than 100 acres of public land that has become increasingly desirable as development has reinvigorated St. Petersburg's downtown.

That led some people, including the city's economic development director, to argue that keeping the airport open meant wasting a huge tract of valuable land that could become a new downtown neighborhood.

The council voted last year not to close the airport completely. And this month, the council gave Mayor Rick Baker six months and $80,000 to hire a consultant to study his plan to shrink the airport from two runways to one, and to sell the extra land for redevelopment.

Today's public hearing is expected to draw residents from all sides of the debate.

Local architect Tim Clemmons, who supported complete redevelopment, and then said that Baker's plan was interesting and should be studied, said public input is important.

He said he hopes for other opportunities for public discussion in the next few months, and said the council should put the final decision into the hands of voters.

"At this point, we hope everyone keeps an open mind about what the opportunities and potentials are," he said. "I'm glad we're going to start a more public process."

If you go

Today's public hearing will be at 4 p.m. at City Hall, 175 Fifth St. N, St. Petersburg. Speakers must state their name and address and will be limited to three minutes. The hearing will be broadcast on cable channel 15 and broadcast channel 35.

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