Signs like this pepper the area around
Whiley for several years, there have been
plans to put a general aviation airport
here. Now the city has accepted the money
to begin the studies required before any
airport can be built.
City Hall is standing firm behind the
project. Most people who live in Wylie
don't work here. There's no industry.
City fathers say an airport would
strengthen the tax base, provide for
growth.
Industry does settle around
airports.
That will also give us a good
tax base in our city.
The biggest concern among people living
nearby, of course, is what will the
airport do to property values?
One resident with adjacent land told
me once the airport is built with all the
noise and congestion, I won't be able to
give my property away.
Reia Downing's property would sit at the
end of the second runway if the airport
was built armed with maps, charts
and names on petitions.
She's fighting the airport.
She's not interested in the growth the
city is so hungry for.
We moved out here for peace and quiet
for a country
type lifestyle 15 years
ago and I hate to see this.
Pilot Reia Downing and her
neighbors may be most affected by the
airport, but they have no political clout
here. This area is unincorporated.
Residents here can affect wily politics.
These people are working with Wiley.
Residents also opposed the airport in
their fight. Promises to be a long one.
The necessary studies will take several
years to complete, and it would be
several more years before this land would
actually serve as an airport.
Kevyn Burger, Channel 5 Action News, Wiley.