T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluation0.20 percent of the estimated 2006 housing stocks in Kent County (72,194 units) and the City of Warwick(37,401 units), respectively. If no replacement housing were constructed and if all relocated households settledwithin Kent County, overall vacancy rates would decrease by 0.096 percentage points in Kent County to4.86 percent from the 2006 Kent County level of 4.95 percent. 349 This reduction in vacancy rates may have anindirect adverse impact on housing affordability by raising rents and home prices within the County.Social and Housing Impacts – 2020The following sections summarize the direct impacts to housing due to residential land acquisitions for noise mitigationand FAA-recommended RPZ clearing as well as indirect impacts (housing affordability) beginning in 2020.Direct Impacts on HousingAs previously presented, under Alternative B4, all mandatory and some residential land acquisition wouldoccur by or in 2015 in order to extend Runway 5-23, realign Main Avenue, enhance the Runway 16-34 safetyareas, and partially relocate Airport Road (Table 5-59). In 2020, an additional 69 residential units(67 single-family and two multi-family units) would be exposed to noise levels of DNL 70 dB and above and,therefore, would be eligible for participation in a Future Build VLAP for noise mitigation. All of these units arelocated at the Runway 5 End (Figure 5-19). No subsidized Low- and Moderate-Income Housing units would beacquired (refer to Section 5.5.6, Affordable Housing Analysis).Indirect Impacts on Housing AffordabilityThe total housing stock to be acquired under Alternative B4 (140 housing units) equates to approximately0.19 percent of the estimated 2006 housing stock in Kent County (72,194 units) and 0.37 percent of the estimatedhousing stock in Warwick (37,401 units). If no replacement housing were constructed and if all relocatedhouseholds settled within Kent County, overall vacancy rates would decrease by 0.18 percentage points in KentCounty, holding all other factors equal, to 4.77 percent from the 2004 Kent County baseline level of4.95 percent. 350 This reduction in vacancy rates may have an indirect adverse impact on housing affordability byraising rents and home prices within the County.Significant Impacts: There are no significant impacts under Alternative B4 because:• There would be sufficient replacement housing within Warwick and its surrounding communities.• There would be sufficient commercial space for relocating businesses within Warwick and its surroundingcommunities.• There would be no substantial reduction in the Level of Service of roads serving the airport and itssurrounding communities. Alternative B4 would improve traffic circulation surrounding the Airport,specifically with the proposed improvements to Airport Road and Main Avenue, and the Airport gatewayimprovements on Post Road (refer to Section 5.6, Surface Transportation).349 Vacancy rate numbers are rounded to the nearest 1/100th of 1 percent. The loss of units and corresponding impact on vacancy rates is greater if one alsotakes into account the Current Part 150 VLAP.350 The loss of units and corresponding impact on vacancy rates is greater if one also takes into account the Current Part 150 VLAP.Chapter 5 - Environmental Consequences 5-101 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH05_Environmental_Cons_JUL_2011.doc