LEXINGTON — The Urban County Airport Board has reversed its vote for a new runway at Blue Grass Airport, deciding instead to extend the existing runway and create safety areas on both ends.

        In a 10-0 vote Monday, the board approved a new alternative that would add 340 feet of pavement to one end of the existing runway. The plan would create 600-foot safety areas on both ends while keeping 7,000 feet available for takeoffs and landings.

        The plan will be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration.

        Some board members had opposed an earlier runway modification that created 800-foot safety areas but reduced the landing length from 7,000 to 6,600 feet. Opposition to that design by some board members played a role in the board's 6-4 vote Jan. 17 to build a new 7,000-foot runway with 1,000-foot safety areas, which are preferred by the FAA.

        That decision drew widespread criticism from airport neighbors and elected officials. After airport staff members discussed the situation with FAA officials, a special meeting was held Monday.

        The board rescinded its decision to build the new runway, then discussed two runway options developed by airport consultants since Jan. 17. The modification that added 340 feet of pavement to the southwest end won approval easily.

        “While it's been a rocky path getting here, I think it's brought us ... a better alternative than what we were looking at the first time around,” board member Jeff Woods said.

        The airport would have to buy land owned by members of the McKinney family between the runway and Parkers Mill Road.

        Wayne Collier, an attorney for the family, acknowledged that “there are a lot of happy people in the community today,” but said the board's decision means condemning the only flat field on the McKinney farm, as well as some historic buildings.

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