First Meeting of 1997

PDK Watch is planning a meeting for February 6 at 7:30 PM at Shallowford Presbyterian Church on Shallowford Road between I-85 and Briarcliff Road.

The main focus of the meeting will be noise abatement procedures at the airport.  Since the airport director has declined an invitation to attend the meeting, PDK’s noise abatement officer has been invited.

Please make plans to invite a friend and attend this very important informational meeting.

Whatever happened to monthly meetings?

Some of you may be wondering why there are so few regular monthly meetings.  Rather than assemble each month simply for the sake of meeting, we decided that a general meeting would be held when a special discussion of issues was needed.  In the meantime, individuals will continue watching developments at the airport and pursue action as needed.  If you have concerns, questions, or suggestions, please contact David Green, PDK Watch Coordinator at 770-908-1954.

Is PDK expanding again?

A new operation is scheduled to be constructed on a few acres at PDK Airport.  The prime force behind this effort is Beverly Lance, the same person who tried to lease airport acreage to build a for-profit golf, tennis and baseball business at the expense of a residential community near the airport. Reportedly he is trying a buy out private property adjoining the leased land at the airport.

Lance apparently has the backing of some county officials in this matter.  Every homeowner in North DeKalb should question the connection between airport interests and county officials and any plans they may have.  Is this an indirect way of expanding the airport and/or introducing regularly scheduled air service?  Is this why Ms. Levetan, her county attorney, and the airport director seem reluctant to see an ordinance passed that clearly requires that PDK not become an airport with regularly scheduled commercial flights?

Your guess is as good as PDK Watch’s, but experience indicates we may be about to see another backdoor push for airport expansion.  Everyone living in North DeKalb has good reason to be concerned about the airport’s impact on their property values and quality of life.  PDK Watch will continue to monitor these developments closely.

Cost/Benefit Study FINALLY Underway!

Three and one-half years after the Board of Commissioners requested a Cost/Benefit Study of DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, RKG Associates of Durham, NH, is scheduled to begin work this December.  Doug Bonds who chaired the task force which wrote the RFP for the study will act as project manager.  We are hopeful that the results of this study will provide county officials with reliable and objective data upon which to make informed decisions.

Airport Director Resigns

PDK Watch has been informed that Mr. Ted Orvold has resigned as director of PDK Airport effective the end of December 1996.  A recent news article reports that he will be working as a private consultant.

Printing & Postage Fund

Please note the new procedure for contributing toward the cost of printing and mailing the PDK Watch Newsletter.  Make your check payable to PDK Watch and send it to:

PDK Watch

c/o Doug Padgett

3510 Clairmont Road

Atlanta, GA 30319