Oak Ridge council directs study of alternate airport sites, pauses sale terms for East Tennessee Technology Park parcels

Oak Ridge City Council on a 7-0 vote approved a resolution authorising city staff to explore alternate locations for the Oak Ridge General Aviation Airport and to pause any final disposition of airport‑acquired properties until the City Manager brings options to a council work session.

Council members said the step responds to the potential large-scale Orano project and the city’s earlier purchases around the airport, while preserving council oversight of how those parcels would be sold or transferred. The resolution was amended at council’s request to require staff to present disposition options for three specified properties at an upcoming work session rather than permit immediate sales by competitive bid.

Why it matters: council members and staff said the airport matter implicates the largest private investment currently proposed in the county, raises questions about long-term land use and economic strategy, and involves property the city acquired specifically in connection with airport planning.

City Manager Ms. Hayman told council staff had done preliminary work and had contacted the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) about grant funding already awarded that can fund initial site studies. “That is a grant that can be used to look at another site,” she said, adding any significant consultant contract would come back to council for approval and budgeting.

Council member Smith pressed for clearer rules on how property would be transferred. “We don’t want the land to go to the highest bidder if the buyer’s purpose is inconsistent with the city’s goals,” she said, urging negotiated-sale options and a follow-up work session on transfer mechanisms. City staff agreed to remove the sealed‑bid language and return with a specific work‑session briefing on disposal alternatives and deed restrictions, including the GSA‑gifted parcel that will require a deed restriction change.

Council members also discussed scope and cost: staff said the near‑term exploration would be preliminary and covered by existing ARC funds; any deeper, site‑specific investigations or acquisitions would require separate contracts and council approval.

Several members of the public addressed the council during appearance of citizens. Resident Cole Clasure urged the city to collaborate with nearby airport authorities and regional aviation interests who have already studied alternate sites, suggesting Oak Ridge pursue partnerships instead of repeating a multi‑year site search.

The amended resolution directs the City Manager to: 1) continue preliminary evaluation of alternate airport locations using existing grant funds; 2) compile documentation and options for the disposition of the three specified ETTP parcels and present those options at an upcoming council work session; and 3) return to council for approval of any substantial consultant contracts or negotiated dispositions. The final vote was unanimous.

Next steps: staff will schedule the work‑session briefing on the parcels, proceed with preliminary site screening under ARC funding, and report back to council before any property transfers or major consultant agreements.

Votes at meeting: motion to approve resolution as amended — approved 7-0.