AIRPORT WORK MAY BEGIN ANY TIME.

Byline: Susan Abram  Staff Writer

BURBANK - Security-related construction on 45,000 square feet at the Burbank Airport may resume at any time, city officials said Wednesday.

Building permits were approved Wednesday evening by Sue Georgino, the city's community development director, which means work halted at the airport last month can now proceed.

Her decision followed a four-hour public hearing Tuesday night in which more than 20 residents spoke out against issuing permits without more scrutiny by the City Council.

Residents who opposed airport expansion said they wanted more public hearings as well as an environmental impact report.

But the city concluded that the $25 million project was a necessity after last year's terrorist attacks, and that plans should be speeded up.

``There is no doubt in my mind that this is an expansion, but it's just part of a sad predicament that we find ourselves in,'' said Mayor David Laurell before casting his vote.

Howard Rothenbach, chairman of the grass-roots group Restore Our Airport Rights, said Wednesday that he was disappointed with the decision, but not surprised.

``It's as if they had their minds made up ahead of time,'' Rothenbach said.

Burbank Airport Authority spokesman Victor Gill could not say when construction might resume.

Still, Airport Authority representatives are grateful to the council for helping speed construction that must meet a Dec. 31 federal deadline.