Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Ernie Pomerleau, president and CEO of Pomerleau Real Estate in Burlington, and a member of the Airport Strategic Planning Committee.
Ninety-five percent of Burlington International Airport traffic has nothing to do with the Vermont Air National Guard (VTANG); the flying of the F-16 represents 5 percent of the airport activity and the Vermont Air Guard works very carefully to work with the surrounding communities to mitigate noise issues. This has been the VTANG way of doing business for the past 67 years. That’s how long they have been flying over the skies of Chittenden County. With the basing of the F-35, Vermonters can expect that the Guard will do everything possible to work with the communities and continue a proud tradition of serving Vermonters and the nation.
A small group of well-financed opponents of the F-35 are using fear tactics with alleged impacts to scare Vermonters. They want you to believe that your home is at risk because of the F-35. There is no evidence to support this position and to the contrary, area residents should be optimistic about their home values. I was born in Burlington and have been in real estate in the Burlington area for 40 years. I join other real estate professionals who are responsible for the majority of the real estate transactions in the region who have studied the market area and have come to some very positive conclusions.
The basing of the F-35 will not add any significant negative impact to real estate values and we find that there is no reliable market data to suggest otherwise. Moreover, in South Burlington, Winooski and Williston there continues to be considerable market activity for investment and growth within the areas surrounding the Burlington Airport. All with the knowledge that the F-35 may be coming to Vermont.
South Burlington residents enjoy one of the finest school systems in Vermont and a vibrant business and residential area to live in. Residents have positively coexisted with the airport and the Air Guard for decades and that isn’t going to change with the F-35.
Those living in South Burlington see minimal vacant inventory for sale or rent. You are being told that the houses that were bought near the airport and their subsequent treatment are somehow the fault of the VTANG. The airport’s buy-back program (currently in effect in portions of South Burlington) is a completely separate process from this basing decision and is run by the FAA, not the military. The program is voluntary and is subject to federal funds being available, as well as the property being located within the Airport’s Noise Compatibility Program (which must be approved by the Burlington City Council in coordination with the South Burlington City Council).
It is important to note that there needs to be a plan and a vision for how the area directly surrounding the airport will be redeveioped. This has to best reflect the good of the neighborhoods, the community, and the region. A proactive approach is long overdue and must be a top priority. This should result in added value to area housing and remedy an existing problem that has been neglected for too long. There is currently litigation, brought by a local resident, regarding the houses that were bought near the airport which has halted any process for demolition.
South Burlington residents enjoy one of the finest school systems in Vermont and a vibrant business and residential area to live in. Residents have positively coexisted with the airport and the Air Guard for decades and that isn’t going to change with the F-35.
Winooski is under the flight path of the airport and is currently in the 65 decibels day-night average sound level (DNL) area. Winooski is seeing tremendous housing investment with full knowledge of the potential basing of the F-35. Luxury apartment investments have been over $15 million and St. Michael’s College is investing $30 million in a new student housing complex. Development and sales of condominiums at Winooski Falls area indicates a strong appetite for investment and growth within the currently affected DNL line. Winooski is Vermont’s rising star and fear-mongering for political advantage can only create negative self-fulfilling prophecy if left unchecked.
I had the opportunity to personally observe and listen to the F-35 flying together with an F-16.
I can tell you that the planes are so similar in their sound that it’s difficult to tell the difference. | can personally attest that we should not expect to see any different experience with the F-35 operating from our Vermont Air Guard base than we are currently experiencing from the current F-16 operations.
The economic benefits for Vermonters with the basing of the F-35 are tremendous. Housing markets will continue to thrive. The downside is minimal. If the discussion is somehow taken off-track by unsubstantiated fear, area residents and Vermonters as a whole will suffer.
Vermonters are smarter than that, and the majority, including over 12,000 residents signing a petition, has voiced support for the Vermont Air National Guard and the basing of the F-35 to continue a proud tradition of service and community building.
