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UND Aerospace seeks hard‑surface runway at Gorman Field; commission tables decision for further review
Summary
The University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation asked the county to permit a hard‑surface runway and additional facilities at Gorman Field; commissioners tabled the request for three weeks and asked staff to notify nearby property owners.
The University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation asked Grand Forks County on July 15 to approve a hard‑surface runway and future support buildings at Gorman Field, the university’s unmanned aircraft research and training facility. The commission tabled the request to allow additional public outreach and to align consideration with a pending county land‑use compatibility study.
Sandy, head of business development for the UND Aerospace Foundation, told the commission the foundation seeks to convert an existing 1,500‑foot grass runway to a hard surface (concrete) roughly 50 feet wide and to plan for one or two additional storage/research buildings. She said the hard surface would improve safety, provide power and fiber connections to multiple launch/landing pads and expand opportunities for research and training. Sandy noted ongoing and planned partnerships with the Grand Forks Air Force Base, the North Dakota Army National Guard and other federal agencies for counter‑UAS training and research.
Residents near Gorman Field raised concerns about increased flight operations and airspace impacts, asking the commission to wait for the county’s broader compatibility study and for documented input from the airbase. One nearby resident said current operations already concentrate traffic over local properties and asked for additional public notice and consultation.
Commission action
Commissioners voted to table the request for three weeks (to the next regular session that could be scheduled to coincide with budget calendar items) and instructed staff to expand public notice to property owners within a three‑mile radius and to place the matter on the county’s upcoming budget‑related agenda so it could be considered with other capital and planning items.
Ending
The commission’s tabling preserves the foundation’s existing operations while seeking additional public input and alignment with the county’s land‑use compatibility work and any comments from the Grand Forks Air Force Base.
