Monkey Island airport proposal is rejected

(Jay-AP) -- An amended plan for the Grand Lake Regional Airport at the upscale Monkey Island housing development in northeast Oklahoma has been rejected.

Delaware County commissioners say the plan was rejected because the Federal Aviation Administration says two hangar-homes built along the airport's runway violate air safety standards. The two homes are estimated to be worth a total of almost one (m) million dollars.

The F-A-A says one of the homes encroaches on F-A-A airspace by 16 feet while the other is objectionable from a compatible land-use perspective.

The Monkey Island Development Authority submitted the airport layout plan to the F-A-A in December without consulting county commissioners. F-A-A officials say they won't review the plan without the commissioner's approval.

A Delaware County judge has issued a temporary restraining order that's stopped further construction at the airport.