Willow community members weigh in on proposed Houston airport

Ahead of the Houston City Council meeting scheduled for Aug. 8, in which the council is expected to vote on a resolution for final approval of a land location for a proposed municipal airport, Willow residents came out to discuss the matter during the Willow Alaska Community Organization (WACO) meeting.

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.

“This is obviously early phase in Houston’s goal, and no one can blame them for trying,” said WACO Chair Tryg Erickson during the meeting. ,

Brian Grenier has been appointed to lead a committee of Willow residents to look further into the airport project. Erickson said that Grenier has already crafted 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.

“We are particularly concerned about any potential repercussions on the enjoyment of local residents, the impacts on WACO road service area, fire service funding, and the protection of the environment.”

“I know that has been an area of great interest,” said Erickson, who worried that the state will invest millions into the project, hiring surveyors and engineering firms and ultimately end up with nothing.

“It probably isn’t going to go anywhere, but that doesn’t mean we won’t waste time and energy chasing a project like this.”

Former Houston City Councilman Lance Wilson spoke at the meeting, telling the WACO members that when the idea was brought up in the past, the idea did not take root.

“We recognized in 2012 through 2016, when we were developing the Houston Comprehensive Plan and had massive public input…we did not consider an airport because of your (Willow’s) airport, because of Big Lake’s airport, because of the (Anchorage) International Airport, and numerous private airstrips and floatplane lakes. We didn’t feel the need for this, and particularly not for a commercial airport managed by the City of Houston.”

Wilson urged members to attend the Houston City Council meeting to express their opinions on the proposed airport.

Linn McCabe, wife of Representative Kevin McCabe, spoke at the meeting, reading a statement regarding his position on the matter:

“He is not collaborating with the City on this matter. His office has emphasized to the Mayor that the City must first complete all groundwork, including gathering public support (for project and location), deciding on a parcel they would like, obtaining resolutions from the city council, etc., before submitting any proposal for consideration to the state and appropriate departments.”

She said that anyone with questions or concerns may contact his office.

While other audience members asked questions and raised concerns about encroachment on state park lands, no one spoke in support of the proposed airport during the meeting, and Erickson urged WACO and members of the community keep an eye on the project and weigh in as they feel, summing up the mood of the community members at the meeting:

“I feel the tenor of the room is not supportive.”