Process begins for airport ballot initiative in Houston

The process began for a citizen initiative to place the issue of a municipal airport on the ballot which would give the Houston voters an opportunity to decide on the idea.

“A large project like a municipal airport should go through a structured public planning process of household surveys, town halls, public hearings and an updated Comprehensive Plan that includes a Municipal Airport if the residents want an airport,” wrote Lance Wilson in an email.

The application includes the simple question should the city of Houston be allowed to spend public money, use city resources, or acquire land from the State of Alaska to plan, develop, or build a municipal airport without voter approval?

On February 3, the application for a Ballot Initiative was submitted to the Houston City Clerk, who, if everything on the application checks out in accordance with Alaska Statute, will certify the application. A decision by the clerk on an application for petition is subject to judicial review.

Within 90 days after the clerk issues the petition, the signatures of 25% of the number of votes cast at the last regular election shall be secured. If enough signatures are gained, the ballot measure would be put onto the next election.

Houston Mayor Carter Cole has been in favor of expanding commerce opportunities in Houston and has long viewed an airport as a part of that. “The fact is (that) our citizens are at quite a disadvantage without an airport. Going forward, there’s going to be double the air traffic there is now. So, at some point, we have to give our airport (committee) some latitude to try and put something together,” he said during an August city council meeting, where after much back and forth, the airport was pushed back to the Planning and Zoning Commission, with plans to host a Town Hall meeting and inviting WACO and the public to be a part of that. There was an Airport Committee work session held on February 1, but the session was not recorded nor broadcast as many of the other city meetings are. No votes or actions were to be taken at the work session.

The Houston airport has been a source of debate not only in Houston, but in the neighboring community of Willow. In August, 2024 Willow residents came out to discuss the matter during the Willow Alaska Community Organization (WACO) meeting.

Brian Grenier was appointed to lead a committee of Willow residents to look further into the airport project, drafting a letter to the Houston City Council informing them that WACO will be closely monitoring any proposals set forth in the pursuit of acquiring Willow lands and airspace.

The Houston Airport Committee has identified State of Alaska property that would support a 10,000-foot runway, which is just south of Nancy Lake. If it is located and built, there would be major impacts on private aviation in Willow, which is home to 26 airports and the Willow Seaplane Base.

“No one has even asked Houston residents if we want an airport before having the City Council start to approve a location, and the proposed site located outside city limits…Many people believe this decision should be put in the hands of the voters before the City goes any farther,” said Wilson.

This is a developing story.