Commissioners ask for air-quality, noise analysis and community benefits plan before advancing Sky Harbor East Side proposal

County airport staff requested a two-week deferral so consultants from Harris Miller Miller & Hanson (HMMH) can present an East Side development air-quality and noise analysis tied to the Sky Harbor proposal at DeKalb Peachtree Airport. "We would like to request a 2 week deferral," an airport representative told the committee, saying HMMH would attend to present the East Side analysis as part of the overall study.

Commissioner Ted Terry said he looked forward to the environmental presentation and urged that the county develop a clear community benefits framework for large development proposals that could create localized environmental, noise or health impacts. "If there is going to be an investment in a community...there might be a more specific investment or direction of services in the immediate area," Terry said, urging mitigation measures such as tree planting, health investments, or noise mitigation.

Commissioner Latina Bowden asked about lease-term options and whether a 30-year lease with renewals might protect community benefits long term. Airport staff said Sky Harbor proposed a 50-year term in its RFP response but that the county and procurement would have to negotiate the duration and options within procurement and legal limits. Zach, an administration representative, said contractual obligations and any community benefits could be codified in the final contract. "We will ensure that the county, any community benefits or anything that we've discussed is codified in the contract so that they're contractually obligated to meet those objectives," Zach said.

The committee discussed estimated tax revenue figures mentioned in the proposal and noted uncertainty about when a development would be on the tax rolls. One commissioner summarized a headline estimate cited in discussion: roughly $211 million over 50 years and about $4.2 million annually for entities including the county and school system, but the committee noted timing and ramp-up of revenues were not specified and asked for technical study results. Airport staff said a technical analysis had been prepared and that copies would be distributed; HMMH would be present at the next committee meeting to answer questions.

Action: The committee voted to defer the East Side aviation development item to the next operations meeting, with the expectation HMMH will present the technical analysis and the county will circulate the study for review prior to that meeting.