Plans to develop a 'vision' for Republic Airport

Republic Airport director Mike Geigeris usually the target of questions from civic and business organizations that have issues of one type or another with the East Farmingdale facility.

But these days Geiger is the one asking questions.

For the past few months Geiger and a consulting firm hired by the state transportation department, DY Consultants of Roslyn Heights, have been holding meetings with civic and business people to help develop a "vision" for Republic.

At a meeting the other week, about a dozen people turned out and were handed eight-page questionnaires, asking their thoughts about the airport, how much they know about it, and how it could be improved. Some who attended left unhappy.

Barbara Kent, a member of the Action Long Island business group, said she wants to see the railroad station reopened at Republic. But she did not hear that. "If they opened that railroad station, you would have a revitalization" of the area, Kent said. "We told them, 'We can make you into a rock star. We can make you a savior.' "

Helen Norjean, a trustee of the Woodland Civic Association in Farmingdale, said that instead of a "vision" for the airport, she wants to see a master plan. Airport officials said there have been three attempts at master plans over the years, and none were completed. The "vision" was considered a new approach.

Geiger said the vision project will soldier on during the summer, with more meetings scheduled. What's likely, he said, is that the airport will continue to focus on what has been its core for decades - servicing single-engine airplanes and business jets. There was more activity in both types of flying in the last year, he said.