THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 23, 1994 TAG: 9406230474
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940623 LENGTH: Medium
``This is the birthplace of aviation,'' Jay Mankedick said Wednesday. ``It's ironic and strange to me that I can't fly my plane here.''
{REST} Mankedick, the owner of Outer Banks Airways, wants to start a floatplane service from Duck to Norfolk. Earlier this month, however, he received a notice from the Dare County Planning Board banning the operation of such flights, after several members of the Duck Civic Association protested operation of the aircraft.
Dare County Planning Director Ray Sturza refused comment on the matter, citing board procedure.
``Since this is a quasi-judicial matter, it would be inappropriate for me to comment until after the (July 11) hearing. I'll be glad to talk to you after the hearing,'' Sturza said.
Mankedick said he tried to talk to members of the Duck Civic Association, but had little success.
``I purchased the plane in Seattle, but long before the plane arrived on the East Coast, I talked to some members of the civic association and told them I wanted to meet with them. They said they'd call me, but they never did.''
Instead, Mankedick said, a phone campaign was started, asking planning board members to ban the flights.
Mankedick can only guess about reasons for opposition.
``They wouldn't talk to me, so I can only speculate. I would assume it would have to be the noise. But there are boats that pull parasails, and jet skis, and things like that around here,'' he said.
Duck Civic Association Vice President Mike Mangum would not comment on allegations of a phone campaign, but said the association voted unanimously April 2 against the seaplane operation.
Mangum wrote to the board on behalf of Duck residents, and outlined a number of concerns, including noise pollution, safety and environmental impact.
``The bottom line is, we're not trying to stop any business that's already here,'' said Mangum. ``We're just trying to control what goes on in the future. There's a lot of activity up here. If it was in your backyard, you'd feel the same way.''
Mankedick said he began his business by ``testing the waters,'' offering seaplane tours of the area, with a long-term goal of establishing the shuttle service to Norfolk.
``This is an extension of service, something Dare County has said that it wants. But now they've nixed it.''
Mankedick said the planning board and Sturza have been fair in their dealings with him.
``I've talked to Ray Sturza a number of times. The planning board is fair. My question is whether or not all of the good people of Duck know what's going on.''
A July 11 appeal is set in the matter. Mankedick said he is unsure whether he will take legal action if the earlier decision is upheld.
``I don't know. Right now, I can't say yes or no. It's a costly process. If the planning board and the people of Duck and Dare County want to uphold that decision, then the people have spoken.'' by CNB