New fence curbs 100+ parking spaces near station flight line

Story by Lance Cpl. Aaron Diamant

With the new security fence construction near the flight line here, 116 parking spaces near the hangars have been lost.

Planning experts are working to remedy the problem, and a plan is in the works to convert unused and lightly used land near the flight line into extra parking to make up for the lost spaces.

"We're trying our best to make it as painless as possible for the tenant units," said Greg McShane, station airfield operations officer.

The new fence was necessary to bring the station's flight line into accordance with Marine Corps safety regulations for height and stand-off distances.

"It actually exceeds the requirements for stand-off distances and height," said Ron Kruse, station engineering director.

Meeting those requirements unfortunately took away parking spaces from the already crowded flight line parking lots.

"We're working to offset as much of that loss as possible," said Kruse.

While no definitive solution exists yet, the plan currently involves paving an expanse of land east of the hangars currently used as area for contractors' offices while working on station.

The plan also calls for eliminating the landscaped area in the middle of the base operations parking lot, as well as expanding parking areas near the environmental warehouse, building 234, and to the east of Marine Aircraft Group 13's headquarters, building 505, said Kruse.

Despite the parking inconvenience, the squadrons on the flight line have been cooperating with the construction efforts.

"We have received a lot of support from the squadrons with moving their stuff to allow the contractors access to the construction areas," said Kruse.

The security fence is scheduled to be completed in late February 2010.