By Mark Carlisle
Twitter: @mwcarlisle

The Glendale Aviation Advisory Commission is telling City Council to keep homes away from the Glendale Municipal Airport.

Last week, the commission unanimously approved sending a letter to Council in opposition of a planned apartment complex less than a mile from the airport. The apartment complex is planned to be combined with offices, retail and commercial businesses as part of the Desert River 2 development, planned for north of the northwest corner of 99th and Glendale avenues, near St. Joseph’s Westgate Medical Center and the new Credit Union West location. The apartment complex is planned to be three to five stories and up to 50 units per acre.

“My personal belief is that this is a really bad location for multi-family. We will get plenty of complaints as a result,” said Airport Manager Carl Newman.

The commission invariably taken the stance of opposing homes near the airport, mainly because of noise complaints it would bring against the airport, potentially jeopardizing the airport’s future or ability to operate.

“Our trepidations for this kind of development is well-known,” said Commissioner Terry S. Aramian.

Prior to discussing the Desert River 2 apartments, the commission had just discussed opposition to a housing development in Phoenix, just southeast of the airport. One commissioner lamented that they have to have the same fights with their own city’s government, saying that Glendale city officials should know the importance of keeping residences away from the airport.

Mr. Newman said the planned site for the apartments is directly below where planes will make a turn before landing at one runway and make a turn after taking off from another runway.

Commission Chairman Larry Rovey said the commission does not have a blanket opposition to residences near the airport, saying that each residential development based on location and scope.

“Some of them may be on the borderline of the acceptable, but this one, with the height and the density, I think it just screams ‘bad idea,’” Mr. Rovey said.

Mark Carlisle
Associate Editor | Phoenix
@mwcarlisle

mcarlisle@iniusa.org

Meet Mark

Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.

Community: Mark enjoys taking his young son to BabyTime at the Phoenix Public Library, to the OdySea Aquarium and to various sporting events around the Valley.

Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.

Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.

 

Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, son and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.