Airport proposal snarls plans to rebuild home> Flames claimed Houlton man’s house in January

HOULTON — David Small didn’t know that when his house on Hovey Road burned Jan. 18 he also would have to worry about a planned expansion of Houlton International Airport.

Small’s house, as well as three or four others on Hovey Road, are located about a half-mile from the airport. Plans are in the works to lengthen the runway by 500 feet in the next three to five years. That being the case, all of the houses will be located in what is known as a Runway Protection Zone.

The RPZ is designed to enhance the protection of people and property in the approach and takeoff area at the ends of the runway. When the runway is extended, the RPZ will also have to be lengthened. That will include residential properties at the end of Hovey Road near the intersection with White Settlement Road.

The town had not planned to begin any negotiations with property owners in the new RPZ for at least two years, until plans for the runway expansion were more definite with the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Town Manager Allan K. Bean. But Small’s fire changed that.

Small plans to rebuild. But when he went to get a building permit, he found out his property would be in the new RPZ.

Walter Goodrich, chairman of the town’s Planning Board, said the board reviewed the situation and determined that for the town to allow Small to rebuild on the same site “doesn’t send a great message to the FAA about what Houlton plans to do with its airport.”

The town has offered to negotiate with Small now since it would be more expensive and difficult to do so after he built a house.

Small has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the town, provided the town meets his conditions.