Faa Decision To Relocate Airport

[Bobby J]

PANAMA CITY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SUPPORTS FAA DECISION TO RELOCATE AIRPORT



Panama City Beach, FL (September 15, 2006) ? The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Debi Knight issued the following statement in response to the Federal Aviation Administration?s approval to relocate the Panama City ? Bay County International Airport to West Bay:



?The Panama City Beach Chamber is very pleased with the FAA?s decision to relocate the Panama City ? Bay County airport to West Bay. First and foremost, this decision guarantees us an airport that meets all federal safety standards. But more importantly, this decision creates tremendous opportunity for Panama City Beach, Bay County and all of Northwest Florida.



?The new airport will be a tremendous economic development platform ? a very important tool for us to use to attract new businesses and high-quality jobs. It puts Bay County in a whole new category as we work to bring economic development to our region.



?With a new airport, we will be in a much stronger position to improve air service, attract a low cost airline and bring more competitive airfares to Northwest Florida. We won?t have to travel to Pensacola or Tallahassee in search of a reasonable airfare.?



?The environmental benefits of relocation are also substantial, including the creation of the West Bay Preservation Area and the protection of nearly the entire shoreline of West Bay.



?The FAA, the nation?s foremost aviation experts, has answered every critic and responded to every comment with their thorough study. We appreciate their efforts on our behalf. And we thank our airport authority for their commitment it protecting and improving our quality of life.



?A new day is dawning in Northwest Florida ? and we have every reason to be optimistic about our future.? :clap_1:

 

[Kurt]

Now I know why there are 30,000 condos under construction, a theme park coming, new highways being built, cruise ships arriving . . . .

 

[TooFarTampa]

Why hasn't final approval been issued yet? If I recall construction was supposed to begin a year ago. Since we have heard nothing new on the airport in months and months, I wonder if there is talk about shelving it for now because of the economic climate. Any scuttlebutt? What's the holdup?

 

[Bobby J]

It will take us awhile to grasp the reality of this but when it hits we shall see a market turn back around and fast. I have already had two calls on big development peices in North Walton because of this. Also, look at areas that have an international airport. They tend to boom!!!!

 

[Kurt]

Why hasn't final approval been issued yet? If I recall construction was supposed to begin a year ago. Since we have heard nothing new on the airport in months and months, I wonder if there is talk about shelving it for now because of the economic climate. Any scuttlebutt? What's the holdup?

It's been on schedule - a long permit process has been going on and then FAA approval process.

 

[Kurt]

http://pcairport.bechtel.com

The Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District workshop previously scheduled for August 31, 2006 has been rescheduled to September 21, 2006. The District is seeking industry input regarding construction management options pertaining to the relocation of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport. This project has an estimated construction cost of $278 million. The project is expected to begin construction in early to mid 2007. The Airport Board will be conducting this special workshop to allow interested firms the opportunity to share their experiences concerning construction management of airports and to recommend specific construction management approaches and construction delivery methods for the implementation of the relocation of the airport. This workshop will be held at 9 a.m. (CST) on September 21, 2006, in the Board Room on the second floor of the Panama City-Bay County International Airport terminal building, Panama City, Florida. For further information please contact Randy Curtis, Executive Director, (850)763-6751.

 

[tivoli]

PANAMA CITY BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SUPPORTS FAA DECISION TO RELOCATE AIRPORT



Panama City Beach, FL (September 15, 2006) ? The Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Debi Knight issued the following statement in response to the Federal Aviation Administration?s approval to relocate the Panama City ? Bay County International Airport to West Bay:



?The Panama City Beach Chamber is very pleased with the FAA?s decision to relocate the Panama City ? Bay County airport to West Bay. First and foremost, this decision guarantees us an airport that meets all federal safety standards. But more importantly, this decision creates tremendous opportunity for Panama City Beach, Bay County and all of Northwest Florida.



?The new airport will be a tremendous economic development platform ? a very important tool for us to use to attract new businesses and high-quality jobs. It puts Bay County in a whole new category as we work to bring economic development to our region.



?With a new airport, we will be in a much stronger position to improve air service, attract a low cost airline and bring more competitive airfares to Northwest Florida. We won?t have to travel to Pensacola or Tallahassee in search of a reasonable airfare.?



?The environmental benefits of relocation are also substantial, including the creation of the West Bay Preservation Area and the protection of nearly the entire shoreline of West Bay.



?The FAA, the nation?s foremost aviation experts, has answered every critic and responded to every comment with their thorough study. We appreciate their efforts on our behalf. And we thank our airport authority for their commitment it protecting and improving our quality of life.



?A new day is dawning in Northwest Florida ? and we have every reason to be optimistic about our future.? :clap_1:

Thanks for posting that awesome information.... The whole area of
South Walton is going to be put on the US radar map, once the Airport
announcement is made and the press gets wind, I would speculate that
a lot of investors will come knocking soon. This is great news for the
area.... Living in Indiana most people act like I'm talking about a foreign
place when I mention Seaside, Seagrove, Watercolor/Watersound, Alys
and Rosemary. Also, Sandestin is where?? The International Airport
will make all of the above-mentioned areas accessible from any part of
the country.....

Also, Melvin Simon, Simon Properties, Indianapolis, has already done his
homework in regard to Pier Park..... I'm sure he had seen the writing
on the wall with the possibility of an International Airport coming into the
area..... Congrats to South Walton with the FAA's approval.......

 

[destinsm]

I have been perusing this message board for a few months now and everybody comments that what makes SoWal great is the non commercial, laid back, slow living, down home feel, that the SoWal beaches and commmunity provide...

If this airport comes in and all your grandiose predictions come true you will be just the same as any other over developed, traffic laden, big box store, chain restraunt haven, all the other beach communities in FL have become...

I was under the impression that most of you would despise this news, but in the end I guess the dollar signs in your head trump thoughts of what made SoWal so "special" (in your words) to begin with...

 

[Uncle Timmy]

I have been perusing this message board for a few months now and everybody comments that what makes SoWal great is the non commercial, laid back, slow living, down home feel, that the SoWal beaches and commmunity provide...

If this airport comes in and all your grandiose predictions come true you will be just the same as any other over developed, traffic laden, big box store, chain restraunt haven, all the other beach communities in FL have become...

I was under the impression that most of you would despise this news, but in the end I guess the dollar signs in your head trump thoughts of what made SoWal so "special" (in your words) to begin with...

Development is coming to America's coasts regardless.

I think I speak for most locals when I say that in spite of the fact that we all loved the slower paced, quiet area this used to be, we understand that development has come and will continue to come.

The question at this stage is "What kind of development do we want?"

South Walton has done a remarkable job is establishing itself as a different beach destination from the mega-condo dominated cities of most coastal areas.

However, we all understand that to an extent, the long term pressure is on us to relax our strict regulations an open up this area to the kind of high density development you find across the county line in Panama City Beach.

Unless, of course, we can continue to make the kind of development we have here economically successful. Opening us up to new markets is one way to do that. That is why I am pleased to hear that the new airport is moving forward.

If, for example, Alys Beach was to fail in the next few years -it isn't going to just lie there fallow....it will eventually be bought up by some developer who will slap up some cheap condos or ugly townhomes with a much higher density than Alys has planned.

As for the laid back, slow living part of the equation -that is a job for the locals to maintain that spirit regardless of what kind of development we have.

 

[Kurt]

I have been perusing this message board for a few months now and everybody comments that what makes SoWal great is the non commercial, laid back, slow living, down home feel, that the SoWal beaches and commmunity provide...

If this airport comes in and all your grandiose predictions come true you will be just the same as any other over developed, traffic laden, big box store, chain restraunt haven, all the other beach communities in FL have become...

I was under the impression that most of you would despise this news, but in the end I guess the dollar signs in your head trump thoughts of what made SoWal so "special" (in your words) to begin with...

We've already seen it change a lot and understand it is inevitable that what you fear will come to pass. The airport is only part of the equation, and it has been accepted that it was going to happen. This news comes as no suprise.

Some will be happy with the changes and some will not.