A second commercial airport has been the dream of many in metro Atlanta for decades, and hopes of flying from north suburban runways were boosted two years ago when three firms expressed interest in operating Briscoe Field in Gwinnett County.
But in the wake of a bribery scandal that forced the resignation of a Gwinnett commissioner and well-funded opposition from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Delta Air Lines as well as local residents, the prospects of another regional metro airport now look unlikely.
The Gwinnett County Commission is poised to vote Tuesday whether to bring commercial passenger flights to Lawrenceville's Briscoe Field. But the resignation of Commissioner Shirley Lasseter, a backer of the plan, has supporters and opponents doubtful about its chances for approval.
Lasseter abruptly resigned from the commission Thursday before pleading guilty to taking $36,500 in bribes in an ongoing corruption investigation.
"There's no prayer of it passing," said Jim Regan, a member of a citizen group that recently recommended Gwinnett reject the airport proposal.
Hartsfield-Jackson is the world's busiest airport, but unlike other large metropolitan areas like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington and Dallas, there is only one major airport in metro Atlanta.
Things likely will remain that way for the immediate future if, as expected, Tuesday's vote goes against Propeller Investments' proposal to schedule passenger flights to New York, Chicago, Miami and other cities from Briscoe. The New York firm has been mum on specifics, and Gwinnett hasn't released Propeller's proposal, citing county purchasing policies.
Needing a three-vote majority for approval, the plan faces entrenched opposition from Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash and Commissioner John Heard. Without Lasseter to cast an affirmative vote, that leaves Commissioners Mike Beaudreau and Lynette Howard as the plan's only potential supporters.
Neither commissioner has promised to vote for the plan and even if they did their two votes wouldn't be enough to keep the measure alive.
"It can't get the three-vote majority," Heard said Friday evening. "This issue has been dragging on for two years and needs to be put down as quickly as possible."
Gwinnett's Department of Transportation recommended the board reject the proposal, noting that Propeller had provided "only minimal detail for the operation, development, and planning for Briscoe Field."
Additionally, county staff warned Gwinnett wouldn't see direct revenue for four years, the revenue benefit to the county would be only 1 percent, Gwinnett would be expected to waive taxes for much of the project, and the county also would be expected to pay for some roadway access improvements.
Local airport advocacy group Fly Gwinnett Forward said it will push commissioners to consider an airport referendum in November.
"Commissioner Lasseter's troubles have greatly affected the credibility of the commission to vote on this issue, pro or con," said Mike Royal of Fly Gwinnett Forward. "That’s why the best way to resolve it is to put it on the ballot."
Nash said the county does not have the legal authority to hold a referendum on the issue.
Few things have divided residents of Georgia's second-largest county like the prospect of commercial passenger flights at Briscoe.
Gwinnett announced it might sell or lease the airport in 2009. County commissioners never said commercial passenger service was the goal of privatization, but they never ruled it out, either.
In 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration approved the county's preliminary application to privatize the airport. That same year three firms -- including Propeller -- expressed interest in operating Briscoe Field.
However, the debate over commercial flights became so contentious that a consultant last year recommended Gwinnett start again with a new proposal process.
Supporters touted the jobs commercial flights could create and the convenience of darting to Lawrenceville to catch a flight instead of braving traffic to get to Hartsfield-Jackson, 40 miles south of Briscoe.
“I think it would give us the ability to attract even more high-level professionals and companies to the area,” said Raymond Cobb, a former board member of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and Gwinnett County Planning Commission. “If [the proposal] falls apart, we’ll have to think about another way to do the same thing.”
Opponents -- many from surrounding neighborhoods in Lawrenceville and Dacula -- cited the impact the noise and traffic congestion could have on property values and quality of life. Propeller insists the aircraft it envisions would be quieter than some of the corporate jets that already use the airport, but opponents don't buy it.
A 2004 study by the FAA said that with Hartsfield-Jackson as the only commercial service airport in the Atlanta metropolitan area, there is "no opportunity for relief of the congestion occurring there."
However, a study paid for mostly by the FAA last year found commercial flights wouldn't be financially feasible at Briscoe.
Another study by Hartsfield-Jackson last year looked closely at eight potential sites for a second commercial airport in the region, including Briscoe. None was found to be financially feasible and Hartsfield-Jackson refocused its efforts on expansion within its existing footprint. The study did note that the issue "will need to be revisited periodically in the future."
Keeping Briscoe Field the way it is would be a victory for Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, which has been opposed to the idea of a local airport competing with Hartsfield-Jackson, where the airline has its largest passenger hub.
"We don’t think a second commercial airport in the Atlanta area is necessary," Delta spokesman Trebor Banstetter said.
Hartsfield-Jackson General Manager Louis Miller said the airport is updating its master plan to prepare for its own expansion based on not having a second commercial airport in the area.
“We think we can handle the future growth needs for the Atlanta metro area” at Hartsfield-Jackson, Miller said.
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