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          The land region due west of Keene bordered at the north by Mountains, east by Highway 200, and southwest by Power Plant/Light Industrial Area is being considered for development into a precision instrument airport that will manage large and small passenger and cargo airplanes.
The land is currently used for cattle grazing and recreation. Farmer Brian Day has a temporary agreement with Bureau of Land Management to use the land for grazing of his 500 cattle population. Community members use hiking trails in the hilly regions of the land plot.

Timeline for airport development:

• Week 1 and 2: Public hearing on airport development.
• Week 3 and 4: Establish estimated budget, blueprints, hire staff including construction company and managers. Begin soliciting businesses for terminal shops, airlines, and transportation services.
• Week 5: Ground breaking; construction commences. Three teams will work at once: Runway, Highway/Road, and Terminal team. It is expected that said construction will take at least 9 months, with the tenth month allowed for allotting space and resources to contracted businesses and airlines.
• 11th month: Staff screened, hired, and placed appropriately in regions including ground transportation, food/shop management, baggage/passenger screening, security, and information. Airlines will hire and place their own staff.
• 12th month: Airport will open to 30% capacity flights.
• 13th month: Airport will open to 60% capacity flights.
• 14th month: Airport will open to up to 100% capacity flights.
• Further development of the region surrounding the airport is planned beyond the 15th month. This development may include but is not limited to:
• Three high-rise (20-story) hotels, one with a convention center
• One to four large hangars for airlines (based upon need)
• Parking garages (one for temporary and staff, other for long-term parking)
• Gas station west of Highway 200, east of airport

Long-term developments may include but are not limited to:
      Extra runways (including a designated runway for cargo airplanes)
      More terminals with certain regions assigned to each airline
      Highway expansion

• more lanes in Hwy 200
• more exits for different airport terminals/regions

There are some major economic advantages to airport development west of Keene. The airport will provide a means for speedy travel for:

• Business
• Manufacturing industry in the region has expressed interest in increasing distribution of products as well as receipt of raw materials.
• Keene has been screened by several major manufacturing companies in the past as a potential center for operations.
• Tourism
• Keene's outdoor opportunities, including hiking and fishing, attract hundreds of visitors every month.
• Keene will be a convenient starting point for vacationers wishing to visit areas via airplane.

Keene airport is located in the vicinity of high-use airports of San Jose (SJC), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX). Keene airport will serve as an alternative destination for flights normally using these airports.

Airport development may also result in Keene emerging as an ideal site for development and expansion of new business opportunities. Keene has been targeted as an ideal site for ecological research with its varying environments, including wetlands, grasslands, and alpine regions. Science companies or universities wishing to have a science specialty area may be interested in opening a branch here. In addition, with high-speed travel readily available, businesses dependent on air mail, such as high-tech and medical industries, may find Keene alluring.

Studies have shown that cities with nearby airports grow at much faster rates than cities without nearby airports. With this in mind, Keene should be prepared to expand services such as hospitals and schools, as well as resources such as water and power utilities and roads. Revenue from the airport, although primarily used to pay off loans for its construction, will be used for community expansion and renovation projects such as these.

You Decide Intro
You Decide Scenario
You Decide Decision Making Process