St. George council pauses proposed airport hangar lease policy after hours of public comment

The St. George City Council on an unspecified date opened a public hearing on a proposed noncommercial hangar leasing policy for St. George Municipal Airport and then voted to continue the item for further work after extensive public comment.

The policy draft presented by city staff would set new lease terms and administration rules for hangars on city-owned airport property. Dustin (city staff) told the council the draft extends base lease terms to 20 years with two five‑year extensions and would require a 3% transfer fee based on Washington County assessed value, to be deposited into a restricted account for taxiway improvements and airport construction. Dustin also described wait‑list and notification rules that would remove applicants after two consecutive forfeitures and provisions allowing applicants to refuse a hangar dimensionally unsuitable for their aircraft while retaining their place on the list.

Why it matters: The draft touches on the length of leases, resale and transfer fees, subleasing rules and operational requirements for aircraft — items that affect small aviators, hangar investors and the city’s ability to fund future airport maintenance. Several speakers warned the proposed language could reduce investment in new hangars, penalize hobbyist pilots and conflict with FAA guidance on airport rates and charges.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Northwest Mountain Regional Manager Brad Shuster told the council he supports stakeholder consultation and urged a formal user‑consultation period, saying, “I’ve never seen a situation ... where the sponsor of a FAA‑obligated airport went literally from written document and straight to ... approval.” Jason Blake, interim president of the Southern Utah Aviation…