City of Hillsboro and Washington County
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To: Hillsboro City Council council@hillsboro-oregon.gov
To: Hillsboro Planning Commission communitydevelopment@hillsboro-oregon.gov
Cc: Washington County Commission bcc@washingtoncountyor.gov
Cc: Oregon Air Outreach action@oregonair.org
Subject: Opposition to DR-044-25 (Sky Harbour Hangars)
To: Hillsboro Planning Commission communitydevelopment@hillsboro-oregon.gov
Cc: Washington County Commission bcc@washingtoncountyor.gov
Cc: Oregon Air Outreach action@oregonair.org
Subject: Opposition to DR-044-25 (Sky Harbour Hangars)
Dear Mayor Pace,
Hillsboro City Council,
Hillsboro Planning Commission, and
Washington County Board of Commissioners,
I am writing in opposition to the Sky Harbour Hangar Proposal, Case File No. DR-044-25, scheduled for a Planning Commission decision on May 27th.
Although this application is being processed as a land-use–only matter, the practical impacts extend far beyond a typical land-use case. Approval of these hangars will enable a substantial increase in private-jet activity not only in Hillsboro but across Washington County, with significant environmental, social, and economic consequences.
Because the project is being reviewed through a narrow land-use lens, several critical issues are not being evaluated: the Port selected a flight-activity multiplier based on Sky Harbour’s slowest airports, even though Hillsboro is likely to be among the busiest; no air-quality or noise-impact assessments have been required; and potential impacts to property values — and the resulting reduction in County tax revenue — have not been considered.
More than 20,000 residents live in the approach, takeoff, and downwind corridors yet none received mailed notices. These residents are unaware of this project and effectively have no voice in the process, despite being among the most heavily impacted. See flight path link below. Expecting county residents to monitor City or Airport websites is unreasonable, especially for those who live far from Hillsboro.
Flight Path: http://oregonair.org/jets
Given these broader implications, I respectfully request that this project be paused until the following occurs:
• Evaluate whether this project exceeds the scope of a land-use–only decision and whether additional authority or oversight is required before moving forward.
• Reevaluate the multiplier, in partnership with the Port, and provide clear and accurate jet-activity projections for each phase to the County, City and the public.
• Conduct an air and noise-pollution impact assessment, using an independent firm funded by Sky Harbour.
• Notify residents in the impacted corridors and give them an opportunity to participate.
• Assess the County’s property-value and tax-revenue risk. We estimate $700,000 to $3.6 million per year in lost County revenue.
This project has two distinct components — land-use impacts and air-use impacts — and only the first is being reviewed. The community deserves clarity on which governing body is responsible for evaluating the second, especially given the wide financial impacts involved.
The County, City, and Planning Commission all share a vested interest in ensuring this project is fully evaluated. The substantial impacts to residents and the loss of property-tax revenue affect the State, County, and City. If only the land-use portion is considered, it reflects poorly on the Planning Commission. A complete evaluation protects the public, safeguards the County’s revenue base, and ensures the Planning Commission is not placed in the position of approving a project whose broader impacts were never assessed.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Hillsboro Planning Commission, and
Washington County Board of Commissioners,
I am writing in opposition to the Sky Harbour Hangar Proposal, Case File No. DR-044-25, scheduled for a Planning Commission decision on May 27th.
Although this application is being processed as a land-use–only matter, the practical impacts extend far beyond a typical land-use case. Approval of these hangars will enable a substantial increase in private-jet activity not only in Hillsboro but across Washington County, with significant environmental, social, and economic consequences.
Because the project is being reviewed through a narrow land-use lens, several critical issues are not being evaluated: the Port selected a flight-activity multiplier based on Sky Harbour’s slowest airports, even though Hillsboro is likely to be among the busiest; no air-quality or noise-impact assessments have been required; and potential impacts to property values — and the resulting reduction in County tax revenue — have not been considered.
More than 20,000 residents live in the approach, takeoff, and downwind corridors yet none received mailed notices. These residents are unaware of this project and effectively have no voice in the process, despite being among the most heavily impacted. See flight path link below. Expecting county residents to monitor City or Airport websites is unreasonable, especially for those who live far from Hillsboro.
Flight Path: http://oregonair.org/jets
Given these broader implications, I respectfully request that this project be paused until the following occurs:
• Evaluate whether this project exceeds the scope of a land-use–only decision and whether additional authority or oversight is required before moving forward.
• Reevaluate the multiplier, in partnership with the Port, and provide clear and accurate jet-activity projections for each phase to the County, City and the public.
• Conduct an air and noise-pollution impact assessment, using an independent firm funded by Sky Harbour.
• Notify residents in the impacted corridors and give them an opportunity to participate.
• Assess the County’s property-value and tax-revenue risk. We estimate $700,000 to $3.6 million per year in lost County revenue.
This project has two distinct components — land-use impacts and air-use impacts — and only the first is being reviewed. The community deserves clarity on which governing body is responsible for evaluating the second, especially given the wide financial impacts involved.
The County, City, and Planning Commission all share a vested interest in ensuring this project is fully evaluated. The substantial impacts to residents and the loss of property-tax revenue affect the State, County, and City. If only the land-use portion is considered, it reflects poorly on the Planning Commission. A complete evaluation protects the public, safeguards the County’s revenue base, and ensures the Planning Commission is not placed in the position of approving a project whose broader impacts were never assessed.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.