Major expansion planned for Miller Airport-$7,000,000
The Pinelands Commission is now considering a plan to enlarge Miller
Airport by adding an additional 256 acres of Pineland to the site. This
will also include adding a new larger runway in a east/west direction at
the end of the current runway inorder to handle larger jet plans and
permit landings when the wind direction changes. Also nine new hangers
will be built to hold the increased airplane traffic. Critics complain
that noise and potential danger will negatively affect the quality of
residents' lives. They also claim that this is an attempt to permit
other crowded airports of offload their excess air traffic into Miller.
There are also many environmental concerns when the 256 acres are turned
into a commercial facility. Since such an expansion is in violation of
the master plan, a memorandum of agreement has been drawn up to override
the master plan.The Pinelands commission claims it need the expansion to
handle emergency flights in case of a fire.
These new
crosswind runway would point directly toward the Crestwood Villages and
other senior communities.
The Ocean County Department of Planning is responsible for administering improvements at the Airport. Actual flight operations are handled by a management company. Recently already completed projects include a new fuel farm, widening the 6-24 runway, construction of 24 T-hangar units, construction of a 15,000 SF open bay hangar, taxiway extensions, stormwater control projects, obstruction removal and apron rehabilitation.
To make things even more complicated, the Air Force has combined air operations for McGuire, Fort Dix and Lakehurst Naval Station into a single air command . Chief Environmental Engineer Dennis Blazak from the Lakehurst Naval station stated:
"We want people to be informed there will be an increase in air operations from about 8,000 per year up to roughly 80,000 ( in the near future). There will be more training, additional helicopters and rail transportation impact"
Its your
Airport and your home.
If you want to express your comments, contact:
Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari
CHAIRMAN: Senior Services, Public Works, and County Operations
Phone: (732) 929-2002
E Mail
ocinfo@co.ocean.nj.us
Administratorʼs Office 732-929-2147
Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders
101 Hooper Ave.
Toms River, NJ 08753