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Airport commission seeks 30-year land lease for Falcon Air; committee sends favorable recommendation to full council
Summary
The Lawrence committee voted to forward a request from Falcon Air (Mark Scott) for a 30-year land lease at the Lawrence Airport to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation; the airport manager said the commission already approved the request and explained federal and FAA checks on airport property use.
The Lawrence City Housing Committee on Wednesday voted to send a request for a 30-year land lease at the Lawrence Airport to the full City Council with a favorable recommendation.
Airport Manager Francisco Urena told the committee the Lawrence Airport Commission had voted on May 15 to support lessee Mark Scott's request for a lease beyond the 20-year limit the commission can approve under Chapter 90, Section 51F; the full council's approval is required for a lease longer than 20 years.
Urena said the commission "voted in the favor of a lease by Mark Scott's request" and explained the statutory limit and the need for council approval to extend to 30 years.
Mark Scott, who identified himself as representing Falcon Air and Hangar 4 LLC, told the committee he and his partners want a longer lease to justify larger investments in hangars and improvements. "That gave me more confidence that my business is gonna grow forever, and I just wanna do that on another entity," Scott said, noting his company already holds a 45-year lease on another facility and that a longer lease encourages investment.
Scott told the committee the leases are transferrable with airport commission approval and that federal requirements limit who can buy airport property and what tenants can occupy aviation buildings. He said federal funding covers the majority of airport projects and imposes restrictions on building use.
Councilors asked about the business reasons for 30 years versus 20; staff and Scott said larger projects and buyer confidence justify the longer term. After discussion a committee member moved that the item be sent to the full council with a favorable recommendation; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.
What happens next: the full City Council will consider the 30-year lease request at its next meeting; the committee recorded a favorable recommendation but made no final lease decision.
Why it matters: a longer lease could affect long-term airport development and private investment at Lawrence Airport, and federal rules limit property sale and allowable tenants, which staff said helps protect federal funding for airport projects.
