Hangar owners and event organizers raise cost and access concerns over FAA-funded fence at Lock Haven Airport

Hangar owners and an air‑show organizer urged Lock Haven City Council during public comment to reconsider elements of a proposed perimeter fence at Lock Haven Airport, saying the planned design and related charges would impose new costs and operational problems for small operators and tenants.

The concerns were aired as the council discussed ongoing airport projects and pending "through‑the‑fence" agreements that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Bureau of Aviation say must be in place before the city can draw down certain grant funds. City staff said the fence design and some contract edits were directed by the FAA and bureau, and that grant funding will cover much of the work but that some city or tenant costs could remain.

Why it matters: the fencing and through‑the‑fence agreements are tied to FAA compliance and to the city’s ability to access federal grant dollars for multiple airport projects. Hangar owners said the design and fee structure could increase their operating costs substantially and reduce access when seasonal conditions — notably snow and grass taxiways — affect rolling gates.

During public comment, an unnamed hangar owner urged council members to inspect his hangar area and said the new fencing would be placed inside the airport’s current perimeter and called the…