Logan-Cache Airport Authority clarifies lease direction for Leading Edge Aviation; hangar waitlist, taxiway project discussed
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Summary
The airport authority said a prior motion authorized staff to negotiate a lease expansion for Leading Edge Aviation but stopped short of final approval. Board members raised concerns about leapfrogging the hangar waitlist, noted a taxiway project intended to create hangar space, and directed staff to publish an updated lease/waitlist online.
Logan-Cache Airport Authority board members on reconvening clarified that a previous motion authorized staff to negotiate an expansion of Leading Edge Aviation’s lease but did not constitute final approval of a building or permit.
The clarification matters because aircraft tenants and others on the hangar waitlist raised concerns that an approved lease expansion could “leapfrog” applicants waiting for hangar assignments. The board said final site and building approvals remain subject to the city planning process.
At the meeting the board said the earlier motion—made at a prior meeting by Ryan—gave direction to the airport manager to begin lease negotiations, not to complete final approvals. The chair summarized the board’s action as “support of the process to move forward,” while noting “many steps” remained before final approval, including review by the city planning commission.
Board members pressed to ensure negotiations would not unfairly displace others on the hangar waitlist. One board member said the airport’s taxiway Kilo project, planned for this year, is intended to create space for larger hangars and therefore would not necessarily displace applicants waiting for smaller (for example, 40-by-40) hangars. Board members also said Leading Edge’s currently leased parking lot is part of its existing lease, and that the company’s lenders had asked about longer-term security; a 50-year lease term was mentioned in discussion as a possibility to satisfy lender concerns.
Manager Janine said staff are updating the airport’s list of leases and hangar waitlist information and expected to post it online “shortly.” The board said publishing that list should help clarify who holds which lease and where proposed relocations would occur.
The board made no new formal motion or final approval on the Leading Edge lease at the reconvened meeting. Members reiterated that any negotiated lease expansion would still require the usual planning and permitting steps before construction or occupancy could proceed.
Ending: The board scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 6; staff were directed to continue lease negotiations and publish the updated lease/waitlist information online.