A new airport project is raising noise concerns from residents.
McKinney’s upcoming May 2023 bond election will feature new construction projects and expansions to McKinney National Airport. The $300 million project includes a 144,000-square-foot terminal complete with four passenger gates, 2,000 parking spaces, a 15-acre aircraft apron, and more.
If approved in May, the project would be constructed over the course of two years — through 2024 and 2025 — before an expected opening in 2026. The construction would take place on the eastern side of the building.
Officials believe that the expansion would make the airport a viable transportation alternative to larger airports in the DFW metroplex and “enhance passenger experience.”
Officials claim that the expansion of the airport would provide a number of benefits to the local economy. Benefits would include the introduction of potentially over 3,000 new jobs, up to $850 million in terms of economic output, and more.
The city of McKinney announced that public hearings would be held to discuss the environmental assessment and possible impacts on the quality of living in the area. The first of these meetings was held on March 23, and the next will be held on April 19.
Attendants of the latest meeting communicated a number of concerns related to the project, including noise, wildlife impacts, and traffic, according to Dallas Morning News.
“I don’t think they’re considering the neighbors,” said Lee Moore, a Fairview resident, according to Dallas Morning News. “[The planes] will be flying right over my house,” he continued.
Garver’s North Texas Aviation Leader Mitchell McAnally said during the meeting that the noise levels would only rise above the threshold in underdeveloped areas outside the city.
“As we grow the airport over the years, the noise contours will extend further,” said Barry Shelton, McKinney’s deputy city manager, according to Dallas Morning News. “A small extension does actually go just south of FM 546 by 2031, and that’s because there’s more flights taking off to the south,” he continued.
Other residents communicated different concerns, such as nature preserves that exist within noise contours and increased traffic for surrounding communities. Some residents were concerned that migrating birds would be affected by the expansion.
Shelton said that traffic increases would not be an issue due to the inclusion of the four-gate terminal.
The project, as well as its findings, are still awaiting approval from the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA has dictated that a day-night average sound level (DNL) of 65 is the “threshold of significant noise exposure” and that above this limit, noise levels would be incompatible with local populations.
In similar news, DFW International Airport recently warned local residents that they could also expect a minor increase in noise due to its Airfield Rehabilitation Project.