At the Airport Advisory Commission meeting described to the Committee of the Whole on June 17, commissioners heard a request from Ideal Homes (representatives working with a housing program) to stage 36 modular housing modules on Cook County airport property to expedite delivery and crane‑offloading for a local affordable‑housing project.

Commissioner Sullivan reported that the airport advisory commission unanimously approved supporting the request to seek FAA permission and that Ideal Homes offered to pay the airport $5,000 for staging. The request requires FAA approval; staff said the FAA has a 45‑day review period from the date of submission. County staff and airport volunteers examined potential staging locations and identified a northeast corner of the lower airport property as a candidate site (noting the need to avoid areas with spotted knapweed and to protect environmental and operational constraints).

Why it matters: The proposal would enable a rapid, short‑term staging of modular units (staff said staging could be as brief as six days) to support a multi‑unit housing delivery. Commissioners and staff discussed transportation constraints — oversized loads will travel County Road 7 to County Road 6 because the temporary Devil Track River bridge cannot accommodate widths — and other logistics such as crane access, invasive‑species controls on the airport site and potential traffic impacts.

Details and next steps: Airport staff and the developer will submit an FAA request; county staff were asked to add a letter of support to the next county special board meeting agenda and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) was asked to consider a similar letter. If the FAA denies the request, Commissioners noted the project’s logistical alternatives are limited and the developer indicated Taconite Harbor was no longer a viable staging site due to road weight limits. Commissioners emphasized the developer should present a contingency plan if FAA approval is not granted.

Ending: County and airport staff said they would present a county letter of support at the special meeting; commissioners asked staff to monitor FAA timelines and confirm staging arrangements and environmental precautions before delivering final approval.