Lowell Sun
February 25, 2003

Preservationists seek lawmakers' help to limit Hanscom expansion

By Jason Lefferts, Sun Staff

LEXINGTON -- Officials and activists hope a new national preservation designation and a possible helping hand from Gov. Mitt Romney can soften the effect Hanscom Field growth could have on Minute Man National Historical Park and other nearby areas.

U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan, a Lowell Democrat, said he has met twice with Romney and with Doug Foy, the administration's economic policy chief, and both times part of the discussions included creating a regional air transportation plan that could take some of the pressure off Hanscom.

State legislators said they also hope to convince Romney, who took office last month, that the historical significance of the area around Hanscom deserves preservation from growth around the airport that straddles Lexington, Lincoln, Concord and Bedford.

That effort received a boost yesterday when Scenic America, a Washington, D.C.-based preservation group, announced that the four communities are one of ten "Last Chance Landscapes" that are in desperate need of protection from development.

For years, residents and officials in the towns around Hanscom have battled with Massort, which operates the civilian side of the field, over the future of the airport. Last year, the facility handled about 230,000 operations, the bulk of which were done by flight school pilots.

In recent years, neighbors have seen a spike in the amount of private jet traffic at the airport, and have chafed at Massport's efforts to promote Hanscom. Activists and officials fear that a large growth spurt at the airport would lead to expanded roads, restructured intersections, and noise and environmental damage to historic Revolutionary War areas and nearby Walden Pond.

Activists like Anna Winter, the executive director of Save Our Heritage, a Concord-based prservation group, believe there are a number of options available for limiting growth at Hanscom, including federal or state legislation a formal agreement among Massport, the towns around the airport and the FAA; or another entity outside if Massport running the airport.

"All of these are possible," Winter said. "All of these are solutions that can protect this landscape well into the future."

Meehan said he has talked to Romney about increasing efforts to move activity to airports in Manchester, N.H. and Providence, R.I., in an effort to reduce activity at Hanscom. He said in the past, Massport has done little to actively attract business to the other airports.

"Massport hasn't done anything to promote Manchester," Meehan said. "Their idea of promoting Manchester airport is a sign that says 'Airport next left.'"

Two state lawmakers at yesterday's announcement, Democratic Sen. Susan Fargo of Lincoln, and Rep. Susan Pope, a Wayland Republican, said they hope to discuss Hanscom with Romney and work to reduce traffic.

Critics of Massport fear the agency will continue to increase activity, which will put more strain on roads like Route 2A, which leads to the airport, and will create more noise that disturbs visitors to the park and Walden Pond.

Pope believes the towns have created a united front on the issue and have a lot of leverage at their disposal as she sits down with Romney.

"I think they'd like it cut back," Pope said. "This is the most historic part of New England."

Shawn Feddeman, press secretary for Romney, said the administratoin has no plans to change the mission of the airport, although there is an awareness of the airport's place in the region.

"He supports its curent use, and certainly doesn't support turning it into a Logan airport," Feddeman said.

Jose Juves, a spokesman for Massport, said the state agency has not had any discussions with the Romney administration about changing Hanscom's role.

"We've recieved no indication that the governor's office wants to change direction on using regional facilities or existing infrastructure to meet the needs of our economy and our communities," Juves said.

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