Tempe's plan for the Arizona Coyotes will be nothing but trouble for Sky Harbor Airport
Opinion: It's easy to predict what will happen when Tempe builds 1,000 new homes near the airport's southern runway, and none if it is good for any of us.
Preserving the asset that is Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has necessarily been a cooperative economic project between Valley cities.
Since 1994 Phoenix and Tempe have been guided by our intergovernmental agreement (IGA) that was born out of Tempe’s desire to stop the development of a new runway at Sky Harbor – today’s southern, third runway. That agreement addresses the flight paths departing Sky Harbor to the east and protects Tempe residential neighborhoods from aircraft noise along those routes.
For more than 25 years, Sky Harbor’s growth, expansion and development plans have been made with the IGA and adherence to its prescribed eastbound departure path in mind.
Tempe even appointed its own aviation commission to ensure that the terms of the agreement remain viable and enforced. All of this to protect Tempe neighborhoods from the life-altering experience of having a flight path directly over their homes.
Residential units violate a longstanding agreement
We are gravely concerned that Tempe’s recent request for proposal for a new entertainment district – centered around a new arena for the Arizona Coyotes – includes well over 1,000 new residential units, in clear violation of the intergovernmental agreement.
These residential units are proposed to be built directly under the very flight paths that were created by the intergovernmental agreement to protect Tempe residents.
As previously communicated by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Air Line Pilots Association, the airlines themselves and by the professional management of Sky Harbor, no residential development can be permitted in this area – less than 10,000 feet from the end of the two south runways – without compromising those flight paths and significantly threatening the airport’s continued operation and future growth.
As community leaders who embrace cooperation and compatible growth, it is essential, if the entertainment district proposal moves forward, that all residential development be removed from consideration.
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Taking that action would preserve the existing IGA, protect the existing flight paths over Tempe, and not undermine the future growth of Sky Harbor – the most valuable real estate asset to our state’s economy.
Insulation won't stop the noise complaints
If this agreement is ignored by Tempe and some 4,000 people move in directly under the flight path, we know what will happen next. The incessant aggravation of having commercial aircraft fly low and directly overhead as often as every minute will result in new noise complaints, calls for airport restrictions, arguments for new flight paths, and limits on air service.
We know this from our shared history (when Tempe sued to stop Sky Harbor’s growth because of noise concerns), our own recent experience (when the FAA changed flight paths to the west of the airport), and from the experiences of other communities around the country.
Proposals such as residential noise insulation are not the answer.
We are a community that likes to be outdoors enjoying our Arizona sunshine, having coffee on the balcony, walking the dog, grilling burgers with neighbors. We are not a community that remains inside of a sound-insulated apartment with windows closed.
If Tempe wants to be relieved of its promises under the intergovernmental agreement, the cities could agree to sunset the IGA and openly negotiate with Sky Harbor and surrounding neighborhoods about the future flight paths heading east of the airport.
Don't box in a major economic asset
Accepting the current proposal without resolving the flight path issue jeopardizes our regional travel and tourism industry, including everyone who relies on the airport for travel and employment, and the many existing residents and businesses that depend on the existing agreement for their domestic peace and tranquility.
Sky Harbor has become Arizona’s most valuable economic asset and essential to our state’s continued growth, with:
- A record 46.3 million travelers in 2019.
- 125,000 passengers per day.
- A $13 billion payroll supporting 57,000 jobs.
- And a $38 billion annual economic impact.
It is our sincere hope that Tempe leadership will embrace the history of cooperation that we built together over many decades and work with Sky Harbor Airport, the airlines, the pilots’ associations and neighbors to ensure that everyone’s best interests are served.
Remove the residential component and proceed with further discussions to determine options for development that can preserve this important relationship.
Thelda Williams, Paul Johnson, Terry Goddard and Phil Gordon have all served as Phoenix mayor. Share your thoughts at skyharbor@phoenix.gov.