The following letter was sent to the CEO of the Niagara District Airport, Dan Pilon, and Niagara-on-the-Lake’s council. A copy was forwarded to The Lake Report for publication.
I am a resident of NOTL and I would like to make my feelings and opinions known about the expansion of the airport.
I live near the roundabout in Virgil, directly under a flight path. I currently deal with the noise from planes while outside in my front and rear yards. It’s a bit of a novelty to see the small planes (some prop planes and some small jets) fly over.
There is a person who flies a biplane and does tricks now and again. The military has flights every now and again, and I’ve even had the Snowbirds fly over my house.
As things are today, it’s quite tolerable.
The thought of more and bigger planes using the airport at regular intervals is simply unendurable.
We live in NOTL, an agricultural area surrounded by farmland and green areas, which will be negatively impacted by a runway expansion, from both the physical removal of vegetation (additional Greenbelt vegetation) and increased air pollution, as planes are one of the most polluting methods of transportation.
Noise pollution is also a key issue, especially for those in the Virgil area due to proximity to the airport and runway direction.
Most people who moved to NOTL have done so for the smaller community, less congestion, less anxiety and the feel of small town living.
Any expansion to the airport will eliminate those benefits of the town.
I am sure the folks that have lived here all their lives would not want the expansion as the town is already dealing with the troubles of development.
There are seven airports in southern Ontario and the U.S. in driving distance from NOTL.
- Toronto Pearson International Airport
- John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport
- Toronto Island Airport
- Niagara Falls International Airport
- Niagara Falls/Niagara South Airport
- Buffalo International Airport
- And the Niagara District Airport in NOTL
As you can see, there are a number of different options available without increasing the size of the Niagara District Airport.
Greater benefit to the region with less pollution and no removal of Greenbelt vegetation would be a better, more frequent rail service from the GTA.
Additionally, some type of boat service to/from Hamilton, Toronto and the Kingston area. For that matter, the provincial government could construct a tunnel under Lake Ontario!
I do not want the airport expanded and it is my deepest hope that level heads will prevail and not allow this unnecessary expansion to happen.
Eric Lehtinen
Virgil
