Sale reflects changes in airport noise-control efforts

The administration acquired the 202 parcels starting in 1985 as part of a federally funded effort to create a buffer between the airplane traffic and surrounding communities.

The Federal Aviation Administration is now telling the state to get rid of the land BWI no longer needs, said Jonathan Dean, a spokesman for the state agency.

"Through the advancement of technology, (airport) noise has changed. It's not as big," Dean said. "BWI would likely retain some of the parcels, for environmental mitigation, and keep an interest in potential development."

Future development of any land sold off would have to comply with FAA regulations and county zoning restrictions, Dean said.

Most of the land lies west of the airport. Other parcels identified are the consolidated rental-car facility and areas near Dorsey Road, Dean said. No timetable for the sale has been set.

Ellen Sample, director of the state aviation administration's Office of Noise, Real Estate and Land Use Compatibility Planning, introduced the proposal at an Oct. 28 meeting of the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Neighbors Committee.

"I think what they are trying to do, and I don't really blame them, is to downsize the inventory a little bit," said Rusty Bristow, treasurer of the Harmans Community Association, who was at the meeting. "They've bought a lot of properties over time and depending on the location (development) would almost have to be industrial."

The federal and state noise-abatement programs acquired the land at a cost of $36 million. The state contributed about $7 million toward the total.

All land will be surveyed, appraised and then offered for sale. None of the land will be used for residential construction.

The property will be sold at fair market value and 80 percent of the original purchase price, normally owed to the FAA, would go toward future airport projects, according to a summary of the committee meeting. It is not clear whether any profits from the sale would go to the Maryland Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation or the state general fund.

The State Highway Administration and the Maryland Department of Transportation are working with the state aviation administration on the sale. The highway administration has already purchased parcels for the construction of Corporate Center Drive in Hanover.

In February 2008 the FAA clarified a long-standing regulation by telling all airports nationwide to develop a comprehensive plan for reusing unneeded noise land.

"If they had property on this (the Linthicum) side of the airport that they were going to sell then I would be more concerned," said Ken Glendenning, a long-time Linthicum community activist. "It's a tough time for new business to make a profit so they (businesses) may not even buy it."