Airport commissioners review Taxway Foxtrot plan, preliminary hangar layout and drainage work

Chad, airport staff, and consulting engineers presented a phased layout and drainage plan for development around Taxiway Foxtrot, outlining hangar types, utility corridors and stormwater controls for the airport’s north end.

The presentation described two linked projects: a grading-and-drainage package intended to be ready for bidding in late April or early May, and a separate layout study that assigns lot sizes and estimated costs for future hangar construction. Benson, an engineering consultant, said the layout includes a mix of box hangars, T-hangars and larger corporate hangars to serve multiple tenant types and to address a known T-hangar waiting list. "We eventually, when MTSU kind of firms up what they wanna do, we will have some more area for hangars in this area as well," Benson said.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the drainage design as a priority for the grading package. The consultants outlined a utility corridor running along the taxiway that will carry water, power and storm drainage to an on-site retention basin that outfalls toward Dejarnette and then into a local creek. Vincent, a project engineer on the effort, said hydrologic models have been run and that the design will be submitted to the city for approval where the airport ties into the municipal system.

Discussion also addressed a separately owned five-acre parcel on the west side of the planned development. Benson said the five-acre area remains an open question and "is gonna be farther down the road before we get there." Commissioners agreed no decision was needed on that parcel at this meeting.

Staff said Phase 1 of the plan would provide grading, drainage and utility work that could support approximately six box hangars and initial T-hangar construction, along with a restroom and small waiting area to serve the T-hangar users. The airport is exploring a financing plan that would retire debt from revenues generated by hangar rents.

Commissioners also discussed potential connectivity to nearby roads and commercial property, and the effect of adjacent property improvements on local flooding. One commissioner noted recent upstream improvements that had reduced flooding in the Bradford Place neighborhood and said staff expects those improvements to help mitigate past issues.

Consultants and staff said the obstruction analysis is underway and that further details will be brought back to the commission. No formal action was taken on the development plan or the five-acre parcel at this meeting.