Airport buys buffer property
The deed for a home on the east side of the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport arrived Monday, according to the airport's manager.
Ike Kelly, the manager, said that he is pleased. Using federal, state and its own money, the airport authority bought the property for $184,000 from Roger and Karen Marshall.
The buy is not a sign of an impending expansion from the airport at the site where a residence once stood. Rather, it's part of an ongoing Federal Aviation Administration push to help airports buy their surrounding lands, preventing would-be disasters — such as a nearby homeowner building a radio tower in the backyard.
The specific bit of FAA code allowing and encouraging the purchase is called Part 77, which centers around preventing tall and telecommunications-structures from being built around airports.
“They want to see airports own properties, so they can control what's going on,” Kelly said. “If we control these properties, it gives us a little more flexibility.”
Of the $184,000, 5 percent is the airport authority's responsibility, 5 percent would be paid for by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and 90 percent would be covered by the FAA, Kelly said.
The price came from an appraisal process they're required to use, he said.
He said the land can't be used for the airport's planned runway extension. They're still raising money for that project, which is scheduled to begin in 2024.
The same three-way splitting of costs is planned for the runway project, which most recent estimates put at $22 million.
The newly bought property is a little over half an acre, Butler County GIS data shows. It holds a house and a detached, heated garage. The street address is 617 Three Degree Road.
The Marshalls have already moved elsewhere.
Kelly said that it isn't the airport's intention to tear down the home, but the airport is still waiting to hear from the other agencies involved regarding the options they might have. Kelly said he is unsure whether the airport will be directed to clear the property off, allowed to rent it out or some other outcome.
Aside from approving the sale, the airport received a $90,000 PennDOT grant last week that requires $30,000 in matching funds from the airport.
The full $120,000 pays for design and engineering work for an access road and taxiway rehabilitation, Kelly said.
The Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport is in Penn Township and was formerly known as the Butler County Airport.
