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Midland leaders push airport master plans and study buying FAA‑held land for development
Summary
City staff and council discussed launching master plans for land owned by the Midland airport (Air and Space Port and north holdings), exploring phased purchase proposals and using on‑call planning contracts to speed work; FAA approval and appraisals were cited as next steps.
City staff told the council that a top FY26 priority is master planning two large tracts of airport land to unlock development opportunities and future taxable value.
Presenters said the airport has about 2,600 acres northeast and another roughly 2,500 acres north of the airport that could be developed for residential and commercial uses. Staff said those areas offer scarce development land and that a coordinated master‑planning effort is needed to preserve contiguous, strategic development rather than piecemeal projects.
Appraisals and FAA approval: staff reported that an appraisal process is underway for property the city would seek to acquire from the Federal Aviation Administration. One appraisal came back “high,” staff said, and a second appraisal was requested to ensure a defensible offer. Staff explained that any purchase from the FAA requires FAA approval and that the city will prepare a proposal showing what it can afford and how the purchase benefits both the airport and city finances.
Funding and pacing: staff discussed a phased approach that would pay the FAA over time—examples mentioned were multi‑decade, amortized arrangements—to create a steady revenue stream to the airport while making the purchase affordable for the city. Council members emphasized doing the planning “sooner rather than later” to avoid development that would be incompatible with long‑term goals.
Use of on‑call contracts: staff noted that recently approved on‑call planning contracts allow the city to begin conceptual layouts and master‑planning work quickly without a separate procurement for each study.
Why it matters: presenters framed the airport‑area land as a major economic opportunity that could support aerospace and other industries, produce land‑sale or lease revenues for the airport, and expand Midland’s taxable base. Staff cautioned that the process includes federal review and appraisals, so exact timing will depend on those external approvals.
Quote: one presenter said, “For both of those areas, the master planning is gonna be critical because what we don't want is to look up and see that things have happened piecemeal, and then we have nothing contiguous or coherent.”
