Palmer council seeks input on new airport plan

PALMER — The city is hoping to soar into its future with a new airport master plan.

Palmer City Council and the city’s Airport Advisory Committee will hold a special meeting tonight to discuss the Palmer Municipal Airport Master Plan. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at Palmer City Hall in council chambers.

Airport Manager Jane Dale said the city’s current airport master plan is nearly seven years old and outdated from when it was published in 2001. The information presented in the 2001 plan was gathered in the mid-1990s. Not only has the area’s growth prompted a re-examination of the airport plan, a new document is needed to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements. The FAA provides 95 percent of funding needed for capital improvement projects at the airport with the city and state splitting other costs associated with airport projects.

Along with FAA requirements, Dale said the new plan will help develop and implement improvements needed at the Palmer Municipal Airport that will serve multiple purposes for the city.

“I hope to identify facility needs that are going to provide economic development at the airport,” Dale said.

In addition to economic development, the master plan also outlines other goals for the airport. When updated, Dale said the new Palmer document will serve several purposes:

• Identify needs at the airport;

• Show alternatives for future development;

• Be compatible with land use near the airport;

• Examine operation and management of the facility;

• Examine economic impact of airport;

• Generate a market analysis to encourage growth.

In addition to master plan goals, the updated plan includes a list of facility issues the city hopes to address, including trees surrounding parts of the airport. Dale said trees are a recurring problem on a few of the airport’s approaches and the city hopes to trim or remove some trees to provide a clear approach.

Jeff Helmericks, airport advisory commission member and airport lease holder, said clearing the way for aircraft should be a priority.

“Probably the best thing the plan could provide is vision and clarity,” Helmericks said.

When complete, the new master plan will include an outline of a business plan that will help identify which businesses and industries the city could attract, Helmericks said. It will also provide a list of projects or improvements that can make it more attractive to prospective clients.

Although a new master plan is needed, Helmericks said Palmer’s current facility provides great opportunities for pilots and customers. With the airport about 40 miles from Anchorage and a quick walk or drive to downtown Palmer, users have easy access to the local amenities Palmer has to offer.

“Palmer [airport] has a lot of advantages just because of its location,” he said. “The only downside is the wind.”

Helmericks said the master plan should help address that problem as well. To combat wind, the airport now has 130 tie-downs, Dale said.

Overall, Dale said an updated master plan will provide guidance for the next 20 years of improvements and general business at the airport.

For more information about the Palmer Municipal Airport, visit the Palmer Web site at www.cityofpalmer.org and navigate to the “community services” menu.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow-@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.