Chamber Backs Airport Plan

The Burbank Chamber of Commerce has quietly voted to endorse the first phase of the Burbank-Pasadena-Glendale Airport Authority’s plan to expand the airport to 19 gates rather than the 16 gates that the city of Burbank advocates.

In a resolution approved unanimously by the chamber’s board of directors, the group called for a quick resolution to the conflict over how much the airport should grow, said chamber President Richard Bertain.

“The attorneys are making a good chunk of money on this that probably could go to other uses,” said Bertain, referring to court battles related to the airport’s expansion.

The city of Burbank is concerned that the larger terminal will bring increased noise and traffic. The airport authority contends the bigger terminal is needed to serve growing numbers of passengers.

“A lot of business people know this needs to be approved. The airport should accommodate the future,” Bertain said.

However, the chamber’s endorsement last week included some caveats. For example, the board supports compensation to the city for lost tax revenues resulting from the sale of private land to the airport authority, Bertain said.

The chamber sent letters to the City Council outlining the resolution, but had not intended to make it public, he said.