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RYE BROOK, N.Y. -- In a controversial decision, Westchester County legislators last week approved a 43,000-square-foot passenger terminal for Westchester County Airport.
A referendum will be held in November to authorize $21 million in funding to modernize the present 12,000-square-foot terminal.
Despite measures designed to limit passenger volume and place more stringent noise restraints on the airport as of Oct.31, many consider the terminal expansion overly ambitious and worry that increased air traffic will disrupt the quality of life for area residents.
"The decision to increase the size of the terminal is irrational, uninformed, unintelligent and unfair to the people of Westchester," said Don Gioffre, Rye Town Supervisor and head of the Airport Consortium, a coalition of nine communities in Westchester County opposed to the airport expansion.
Gioffre claimed the proposed terminal -- which is four times the size of the present terminal -- is excessive, based on the airport's current use, and an open invitation to an unjustified expansion of the airport.
"Westchester County as a whole doesn't want more flights and more passengers," he said. "The terminal was approved because of political pressure from congressmen who want to get re-elected."
The Federal Aviation...