Residents fighting a runway expansion appear to have won their battle to preserve trees near the Carroll County Regional Airport ? for now.
About 330 trees will not be razed near the airport north of Westminster unless the forest is removed from a conservation zone, Steven Powell, Carroll?s chief of staff, ruled Tuesday.
But variances to county, state or federal law are granted only in the “most extraordinary of situations,” he wrote in his decision denying a county request to clear more trees than allowed under county code.
The local branch of the state forestry board rejected the plan to cut down the trees in August, saying it would leave the forest too bare.
Cindy Parr, chief of administrative services, sought a variance in September. She cited a 2002 study saying the trees need to be cleared to create room for a lighting system to improve safety for landing aircraft.
Powell?s decision shows that of the six acres where trees would be cut, 3.75 acres are protected under the county?s Forest Conservation Plan, and if that designation were changed to a different section of the forest, the trees marked for clearing could be taken down.
Residents have railed against the tree-razing since they heard of the county?s planned runway expansion at the airport, from 5,100 feet to 6,400.
Ron Buczkowski, a resident opposed to the airport expansion and tree removal, said Powell?s decision is a public relations move, and by leaving room to change where the conservation plan is applied, the county will still raze the trees.
“It?s just another way to go through with it,” he said. “There?s no question it has to do with theairport expansion.”
Residents also decried the county?s decision to allow Powell to oversee tree clearing, because he works closely with the county commissioners, who approved the airport expansion, and Parr, who applied for the variance.
Parr said she will not appeal Powell?s decision to the county commissioners.
