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Knox County seeks public input, FAA grants for airport master plan update
Summary
County and Stantec outlined a 12–18 month master plan update for the Knox County Regional Airport, with multiple public information meetings planned and FAA AIP grant applications submitted; staff said the plan will not propose changing the airport’s classification or lengthening the runway.
The Knox County administrator and airport management told commissioners on March 11 that the county has submitted grant applications and will begin a master plan update for the Knox County Regional Airport, beginning with a series of public information meetings and technical reviews.
Christie, the county administrator, said Stantec — an engineering and planning firm that prepared the airport’s 2005 master plan — is leading the update in coordination with airport manager Jacob. Staff said federal and state grant applications were submitted and are expected to be reviewed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in May or June, with federal funding subject to congressional appropriations.
Stantec representatives said the work will examine hangars, aprons, taxiways, navigational aids, lighting and safety obstructions, and capacity forecasts out 20 years. Staff emphasized that the scope will not include a change in airport classification or runway length; the airport will remain a primary non‑hub commercial service airport.
A minimum of three public meetings is required; staff said they would hold five to maximize community input. The first public information meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m. at the transportation museum adjacent to the airport. County staff estimated the planning project could take 12–18 months under an aggressive schedule but noted the FAA and state review processes can extend that timeline. The FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) governs grant funding for airport planning and typically imposes a multi‑year limit on open grant files.
Staff also said the county will return to the commission at later stages to request approval of the airport layout plan, a technical document that translates master-plan recommendations into the airport’s official blueprint for facilities and improvements.
Jacob said the county plans to coordinate closely with APAC and other regional stakeholders throughout the process and will issue several press releases and public notices tied to scheduled meetings.
