Officials visit airfield to consider future use

Federal, state and town officials toured the Brunswick Naval Air Station on Wednesday as part of the town’s efforts to decide if it should be used as an airport after the base closes.

Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Maine Department of Transportation and the town visited the base for three hours, and they were given a briefing by base officials.

Depending on the availability of funding, a feasibility study could be launched next spring to examine the airfield’s facilities, the market, public sentiment and similar issues.

“Whether or not this will continue to be used as an airport is a tough question,” said Assistant Town Manager Patricia Harrington.

The Base Realignment and Closure Commission voted Aug. 24 to shut down Brunswick Naval Air Station as part of the military’s massive reorganization. The closure is expected to be complete within six years.

Brunswick and Topsham are forming local redevelopment authorities to determine what the base should look like in the future. All of the 3,220-acre base is in Brunswick except 80 acres that are in Topsham.

Nobody knows for sure what the facility will be in the future, but it has been speculated that it probably will be a mix of uses that could include housing, business, offices, light industry, education and recreation.