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economist suntribune transportation thursday aug 22 2002 airport near markham stouffville would be larger than buttonville bymikeadler staff writer a business case is emerging behind the scenes for a pickering airport larger than the facility it would replace buttonville airport in markham in a study to be presented next month politicians and other mem bers of a special pickering advisory committee expect to see the pro posed location size and flight pat terns for an airport somewhere on federal holdings in north pickering and east markham opponents and supporters of the project agree that an airport primari ly for general aviation as button ville is today cannot break even building an airport the size of buttonville wont be doing anyone any good said durham regional chairperson roger anderson in an interview mr anderson said hes not sug gesting an airport as big as lester b pearson international but one capa ble of handling any plane so it can receive pearsons emergencies and provide the larger airport with relief pickering would also launch charters to florida and shortflight destinations such as new york city he said adding thats not unrea sonable in 1972 the federal government expropriated 18500 acres in markham pickering and uxbridge for torontos second international airport the plan was shelved in 1975 but recently the government reserved 7500 acres as protected greenspace and allowed the greater toronto airports authority opera tors of pearson to develop an air port plan for pickering although part of a larger study which will take years to complete and review the financial study appearing next month will help us make some decisions said peter gregg gtaa communications manager mr gregg said the gtaas con sultants are considering a 2012- 2013 opening for a regional reliev er airport at pickering primarily for general aviation a second phase moving to commercial services would begin by 2018- 2020 there may be a third stage after that he said land set aside for a pickering airport within green border extends into markham and up to the border of whitchurchstouffvijje inside that area the brown section within the oak ridges moraine and diagonal lined area 7500 acres of greenspace are protected from development meanwhile expansion will give pearson capacity to handle 50 mil lion passengers a year about 28 million used pearson last year down 31 per cent from 2000 according to the swissbased airport council international even so ruth burkholder presi dent of the markham board of trade and a pac member said the commit tee was told pearson will be full by 2019 making pickering a necessity whitchurchstoufrvilles mayor wayne emmerson also on the pac said hes hoping financial estimates next month will show the airport can pay for itself i feel confident that theyll be able to do well he said but dave pickles a pickering city councillor present at some pac meetings said hes not convinced an airport is needed or that the nonprofit gtaa can make a credi ble business case i dont think it stands on its own without some form of subsidies he said one available arrangement which mr gregg acknowledged is an option that could be looked at is a special free trade industrial zone around the airport mirabel operating north of montreal at onetenth its capacity and restricted to charter flights and air cargo opened such a zone in 2000 to attract exportoriented companies so far 12 have relocat ed at mirabel to enjoy freedom from customs and an income and capital tax holiday durham regional councillor yrng graphic mark holland said from a federal prespective theres an inherent logic to such a zone at pickering it stands to reason that would be the strategy he said though he supports an industri al area around the airport mr anderson insisted such develop ment be taxable not free theyre going to have a hard time getting a sewer from us if they dont pay taxes he said airport opponents say they are frustrated by a lack of information on the proposed airport and possi ble development strategies for the large assemblies of provincial land remaining in pickering and markham at a rally which drew 150 to 200 people to a farm on the markham- pickering boundary late last month speakers urged people to apply pres sure to politicians in order to protect the vast and wellpreserved agricul tural area known to preservation ists for three decades as torontos green door from urban sprawl markham resident john kay directed people to look at the com and farm animals around him isnt this all beautiful he said ifs all up on the block ready to be carved last week canadian alliance transport critic james moore said people have written him to say they want more involvement in the air port planning process the public has to be brought in at the front end the mp concluded dentures complete and partial dentures dentures over dental implants repairs relines of existing dentures new patients welcome no charge for consultations ed edwards dd denturist 6212 main street just east of the train station stouffville 905 6427474 i the markham village olden days antique gab sunday august 25 2002 1 oam 4pm markham main st north of hwy 7 come for the fun vintage antique cars antiques crafts and other treasures antique vendors 3 stages of entertainment best costume competition raffle poker run rain or shine the street will be closed and more do you have an item you want appraised bring your treasure to our antiques on the road show where tom keeling will give you an appraisal 5 per item all proceeds to markhaven home for seniors sponsored by markville ford fordlirmgoir4svx capstone twunomitjcn ecoffimstsun to register or for information call 9054722462 register online at wvvmarkhamviliageconautoregistrationhtml or by email at automarkhamvillagecom