Residents near Felts Field concerned over airport expansion plan

Описание: Concerns are brewing in a neighborhood near the Felts Field Airport in East Spokane, with residents wanting answers on a planned expansion.

Spokane County says it ended its lease with the Airport Board last October, permanently closing the old Orchard Avenue Park.

People who live in the area say they're worried about the possibilities of seeing lower property values and losing their homes because of the expansion.

"It's not what our original plan was when we moved here," said Alan Proffitt, who lives near Felts Field.

Proffitt's lived in the same neighborhood for years, and he's stressed over the uncertain timeline for the expansion plan, possibly forcing him out his home.

"My biggest concern is that there's a rough estimate timeline for when they are going to clean domain certain properties off the street. I know my house is one of them, but since it's a rough figure, it leaves me up in the air with what to do, where to go," Proffitt said.

Mary Ann Sanders, who also lives near the airport, says this plan will lower property values in her neighborhood.

"There's really no place to go unless they go two miles down the road to Millwood Park, which is beautiful park," she said. "People don't want to be looking out at an airport or just plain field like this."

According to the airport's master plan, extending the primary runway to be 1,000 feet, adding new hangars, and replacing the air traffic control tower are now under consideration.

"Since then, we've had a neighborhood meeting and decided we need to let them know that there are no other parks," said Cindy Koker, who also lives near Felts Field.

Ever since Orchard Avenue Park closed, Koker has been fighting for their park.

"I just wrote them a note after they talked about some of their financial situations and said that possibly that could be a way to finance the park," Koker said.

Funding for the costs of the proposed improvements have not been finalized yet.

"I will just keep going to the board meetings and let them know that we need the park here," Koker said.

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