Planning commission approves Phase 2 project plan for Provo Airport terminal expansion
Loading...
Summary
The Provo City Planning Commission unanimously approved a project plan for a two‑story Phase 2 addition to the Provo Airport terminal at 1331 South Skyway, a preparatory phase focused on baggage handling and expanded ticketing that sets the stage for later gate additions.
The Provo City Planning Commission on Sept. 24 unanimously approved the airport services department’s project plan for a two‑story Phase 2 addition to the Provo Airport terminal at 1331 South Skyway.
Commissioner Lisa Jensen moved approval; Commissioner Matt Wheelwright seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Airport staff described the Phase 2 work as a first step in a multi‑phase terminal expansion. Aaron Ardmore, presenting for city staff, said the addition largely expands ticketing and baggage functions on the first floor and provides built shell space on the second floor that can be fitted later for concessions and tenant or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) space.
“The First Floor is really just an expansion of ticketing and baggage,” Ardmore said. Jared Penrod of the airport services department added that the project addresses an existing operational choke point in the outbound baggage handling system and increases ticket counter capacity from the current five counters (10 positions) to roughly 24 positions and more queuing area.
Penrod said Phase 2 is preparatory: the additional gates are expected in a later phase (Phase 3A), which would add three gates to the existing four. He said the earlier airport master plan and environmental review covered the terminal expansion and that the Phase 2 design “falls within what was committed” in prior environmental work.
Commissioners questioned local benefits, parking, transit access and wetlands. Penrod and Ardmore said revenue from increased airport activity is retained by the airport to satisfy Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant assurances and to fund personnel and future projects; they also described planned parking expansions and coordination with Utah Transit Authority (UTA) for improved bus/UVX access. The staff presentation noted CRC (city technical committee) review and that the plan meets zone and technical standards for the Airport A zone.
Public comment was not offered on the item. Commissioners said the phase focuses on efficiency and capacity of the existing terminal rather than immediately adding flights, and several members said they support improved transit connections to the airport.
Votes at a glance: Motion to approve Phase 2 project plan moved by Commissioner Lisa Jensen, seconded by Commissioner Matt Wheelwright; outcome: approved unanimously (recorded as unanimous vote by the commission present).
What’s next: Staff said subsequent phases that add gates and other operational components will return to the commission for review and approval; construction and utility work was described as likely to start in the spring following final approvals.
