Spatial Chaos in the Airport-Proximate Areas - Case Study of Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport

Abstract The airport may be an opportunity for the development of airport-proximate areas, as well as a source of conflicts and nuisances for stakeholders. From the perspective of spatial order and sustainable development, it is necessary to create a coherent vision of the development and operationalize it via spatial management. This article aims to analyze spatial management in areas proximate to Gdansk Airport in the context of spatial chaos. The analyses are based on 232 local spatial development plans for the period 1996-2020, for 11 selected areas in the vicinity of the Gdansk Lech Walesa Airport, documents obtained from the local government, and open-source data. The research concentrates on the analysis of the functions of areas, spatial chaos, and the threat of potential conflicts. The results demonstrate the spatial chaos in proximate areas of Gdansk Airport. This implies that the decisions made by the authorities responsible for spatial management do not respect spatial order and sustainable development and contribute to spatial chaos.