Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter has expressed his extreme disappointment at a development at Oshawa Executive Airport.
“As mayor, I am extremely disappointed to learn about a ground-breaking ceremony for a 30,000 square foot hangar expansion at the Oshawa Executive Airport. This development has been reported in the news as supporting expanded flight training,” Carter said in an issued statement.
He quoted a news report that said the expanded facilities will support the growth of aviation activities in Oshawa, providing a new home for businesses and aircraft displaced from Buttonville as well as building on general industry expansion and flight training demand.
“I am frustrated as this does not support balancing the quality of life of our residents with the economic benefits of the airport,” Mayor Carter said.
He pointed out that the expansion of flight training is not consistent with the council-approved 2021-2022 Oshawa Executive Airport Action Plan outlined in Report DS-21-137, which addresses the impact of flight training schools on the surrounding neighbourhoods.
“As no public consultation was undertaken, city staff have engaged with the property owner and outlined expectations for design and construction and have requested that the building permit process be followed to confirm the hangar is designed and constructed in accordance with the Ontario Building Code and all applicable legislation,” said the mayor.
He said the city continues to be committed to ensuring open dialogue and to considering the needs of both airport users and community members “as we work to fulfill our agreement with the Federal Government to operate the Oshawa Executive Airport”.