Fayette zoning board grants variance for airport hangar project
The Fayette County Airport Authority cleared one of many hurdles on Wednesday as it seeks to construct about three dozen new hangars at the Dunbar Township airport.
In unanimous action, the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board (ZHB) approved a variance for the authority to complete the proposed construction and extended the time frame from six months to five years for the entire project — including infrastructural additions — to be completed.
The variance was sought after it was learned the airport is zoned for business/commercial and/or light industrial and neither designation allows for new hangar construction, said Rob Sleighter, president of RW Sleighter Inc. of Lemont Furnace. The firm was hired to complete the architectural design and engineering work for the project.
Sleighter advised the zoning board that the project is being funded by a $1 million state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant received by the county and a similar amount from a private donor. The donor was earlier identified as 84 Lumber and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort founder Joseph A. Hardy III.
The authority is also seeking other grant money to enhance the project, including the addition of sewerage and other infrastructural improvements.
The authority maintains 100 percent occupancy of the 46 existing hangars, added Sleighter.
“So clearly there is a need for additional hangars,” he said.
Aviation purportedly fosters economic growth, according to several studies produced by Sleighter.
“The bottom line is that airports generate both direct and indirect impacts on the local economy,” he said, adding that 126 local jobs and $16.5 million in revenue has been derived from the operation of the airport. “There are literally hundreds of studies that support the positive economic impact of aviation and local airports.
“This is not just a playground for rich guys with toys. The airport is utilized by business and industry for access to our community.”
Sleighter speculated that the University Business Park and Dunbar Business Park were strategically located by Fay-Penn Economic Development Council because of their accessibility to the airport.
“Satellite offices supporting the gas industry are locating every day in our region,” said Sleighter. “The airport creates opportunities for the business parks and the business parks create opportunities for the airport.”
Sleighter engineer Derrick Crane said that the plan includes the construction of a 4,000-square-foot building that will house three large corporate hangars and five buildings that will each have six smaller hangars for a total of 33 aircraft storage hangars.
The hangars will be situated along a previous runway that will be paved as part of the construction project.
Crane said that the design plans are being reviewed by the state Bureau of Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration, in addition to local authorities.
While there was some question as to the ownership of the property, ZHB solicitor Wendy O’Brien confirmed that the tax records indicated the site is owned by the authority.
Joe Maher, authority vice chairman, said that when the conversation turns to how Fayette County can be improved, it is the need to boost the economy and add jobs that most would agree are the answers.
The authority project has begun that process, he added.
“We have already hired people from Fayette County to do our engineering work that was previously being done out of the county,” Maher added. “Most of the contract work will be done in Fayette County.”
Recalling a 1989 movie about the construction of a baseball field in the midst of an Iowa cornfield, Maher said, “If you build it, they will come.”
“You cannot entice people to come to Fayette County — economically or job-wise — unless you have the facilities,” he said. “We will fund this facility without any burden to the taxpayers of Fayette County.
The board has already been approached about the leasing of one of the corporate hangars, Maher added.
“This is a win-win situation for Fayette County,” he said.
John Cofchin, authority member, said that both past and present commission boards have supported the hangar construction project.
“Through all this time there has been widespread political support at all levels,” he said, adding that past and present authority boards have also embraced the project. “If there was ever a logical synergy, it would be the construction of airport hangars at the airport.
“It just makes sense.”
Voting in favor of the variance included ZHB chairman Rob Guerriere and members Ed Payson and Andre Walters.