Wethersfield residents urge closure of Brainard Airport

After hearing from residents affected by air traffic, the Wethersfield Town Council voted on a resolution to support efforts by the Hartford City Council, some state lawmakers and local grassroots organizations to decommission Brainard Airport, which abuts Wethersfield’s northern border.

The Hartford City Council passed a resolution in August, calling for the closure of the airport, citing that Brainard pays minimal taxes to the city, and urging for redevelopment of the 201 acres on which it sits. Redevelopment potential includes housing, retail, and jobs.

The Connecticut Airport Authority, which oversees Brainard, as well as Bradley International and four other airports in the state, has said it has no intention of petitioning the Federal Aviation Administration to close the airport.

At the Town Council meeting on Oct. 4, resident Thomas Skarbek, of Kelley Avenue, said that when he and his wife moved to Wethersfield in 1975, they were told that planes were to fly over the river to come into the airport, but that they fly south over his house. More recently, he said, loud Chinook military helicopters have been utilizing the airport.

“Getting rid of the airport would be the best thing the council could support,” he said. “It would support not only people in Hartford [and] Wethersfield, [but] people in Windsor and Glastonbury - everybody. It would be good for the whole community. It’s time for it to go.”

State Street resident Sara Hinman said she also has been asked for far too long to tolerate the noise and air pollution.

“I cannot walk without hearing the jets and planes,” she said. “I cannot dine on Main Street without hearing the planes. I cannot go to a cultural event without being bothered by the planes.”

Hinman said she also counted 97 planes on Oct. 2, which did not follow the proper flight path, and added that she has also found oil and gas residue on her vehicles, which came from the planes.

Patrick Hayes, a resident of Main Street, said he has been part of previous efforts to close the airport, which netted noise abatement regulations and hotlines for residents. While some pilots do follow the proper flight plans, not enough do.

Robert Young, of Copper Mill Road, said he was actually surprised about Wethersfield supporting the effort to eliminate the airport, because the property is on wetlands, which is less desirable for development.

“It goes against our grain of thought here in Wethersfield,” he said, citing an effort approximately 20 years ago where development was proposed for Wethersfield’s wetlands, but was quashed.

“I think that for Wethersfield to team up with Hartford, I don’t think that’s our background - to put up buildings on wetlands,” Young said.

Councilwoman Mary Pelletier said that she also hears the planes in Old Wethersfield, but is concerned about some of the wording of the resolution, which does not mention the noise, instead focusing on the air pollution. Wethersfield’s resolution, she said, mirrors the language in that of the Hartford City Council.

“I’d like to see a resolution that’s tailored more for Wethersfield residents,” she said.

Councilman Ryan Biggs said he felt that the resolution does support Hartford’s efforts.

“It’s not just about, ‘Let Hartford do it by themselves,’” Biggs said. “It’s about coming together, to unify, to protect our way of living. If this is directly affecting so many people in our town, it is absolutely right for us to get behind it.”

Councilman Daniel O’Connor criticized the resolution for not having enough “teeth,” and said he’d rather see fines for pilots that don’t follow the correct flight paths.

“Fine them. Hit them in their pocketbook. Fine them $1,000 - every single plane,” he said.

Citing other proposed changes, the council tabled the vote on the resolution. Council members wanted to take a look at the economic impact to Wethersfield, including to town residents.

“I think there are other considerations we have to look at, and look at the full picture,” Pelletier said. “I think we have a little more work to do, to make it something we all can sign onto.”

Hartford Courant reporter Kenneth R. Gosselin contributed to this article.