Aug. 07--FARMINGTON -- The next 20 years could bring a number of sweeping changes to Four Corners Regional Airport.
At a work session Tuesday morning, the Farmington City Council discussed land use and development propositions for the airport master plan, a study used to address development over a 20-year period. City staff will present the master plan to the Four Corners Economic Development group.
The propositions focus on expanding general and corporate aviation, constructing new hangars, building a northern entry road from Pinon Hills Boulevard and other improvements.
The Federal Aviation Administration is projecting that general aviation and airport traffic will rise within 20 years, said Wendy Renier, a planner with WHPacific, an architecture and engineering firm with offices throughout the western United States.
"Once future demand is there, we can convert the existing terminal into a general aviation/corporate aviation terminal and put the commercial terminal in another spot," Renier said. "That's about 20-plus years out."
A proposed north-side expansion could include a large aviation tenant, an aircraft manufacturing or refurbishment facility, industrial park, passenger terminal and airport administration center, she said.
"We want to protect land uses for the future," Renier said.
The complete master plan, which includes both land use and air traffic improvements, will be ready for final consideration by the council in October, said Bob Campbell, assistant city manager.
But one city councilor said the focus should be on improving acute problems at the airport's aging facilities in the short term.
The airport is severely limited because of its short runway, said Councilor Jason Sandel.
A boom in gas production or another
major economic stimulus would attract more corporate business into the area, but those businesses typically use larger jets than the runway can accommodate, Sandel said.
"I'm concerned about the costs of relocating (the passenger terminal)," he said. "The city has to take care of roads, utilities. The struggle I've got is we're investing large amounts of money in something that our existing infrastructure can accommodate."
If expanding general aviation and corporate air service is a focus at the airport, the city needs to bring the facility and services up to par, Sandel said. Fuel is expensive and food options are dismal at the airport, potentially driving away customers.
"The area to the south is already antiquated," he said.
But the plan is not an obligation, said John Arrington, Farmington Airport Advisory Commissioner.
"I just want to remind everyone that the master plan is not an obligation," he said. "It's not something that we're going to spend money on. It is a general plan which is filled in by yearly and five-year budgets."
Greg Yee covers government for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4606 and [email protected]. Follow him @GYeeDT on Twitter.
Copyright 2013 - The Daily Times, Farmington, N.M.
