Atlantic Aviation representatives presented a conceptual capital improvement plan Nov. 6 that would replace and expand fixed‑base‑operator facilities on the airport’s east side and include a landscaped berm and sound wall intended to reduce perceived engine noise at the neighborhood across Highway 82.

County staff recapped the RFP and lease process that led to Atlantic’s selection and said the lease requires Atlantic to present a capital plan. Atlantic representatives said they moved the proposed FBO position toward the primary ramp to reduce aircraft idling time and to improve taxi sequencing; consultants argued the relocation reduces engine run‑time on parked aircraft and therefore reduces emissions and noise exposures at the nearby residential area.

The preliminary plan includes a ~7,500 sq ft terminal/FBO building with an attached pilot lounge and tenant offices; a 160,000‑gallon jet‑A fuel farm (expandable to 200,000 gallons); a 24,000 sq ft community hangar and GSE/charter lean‑to; a renovated existing maintenance hangar; provision for an eVTOL pad and charging infrastructure in the future; and substantial snow‑melt and geothermal systems in high‑touch public areas. Atlantic said all buildings are targeted for LEED certification and that the team is pursuing a LEED Gold score where practical.

Noise modeling from a third‑party consultant (Landrum & Brown) was presented to the board. Atlantic showed maps that compared existing conditions, modeled conditions with the proposed landscaped berm and a continuous sound wall and nighttime traffic levels. Company representatives said the modeled wall (varied heights up to 18–20 feet) will move many residential points from “possibly perceptible” to “unlikely perceptible” sound bands for typical engine/APU events. Project partners also noted an operational benefit: placing the FBO adjacent to the primary ramp allows aircraft to exit the runway and move directly to parking, reducing turnaround engine run‑time.

Board members asked about construction timing, workforce competition with other county projects (noting the runway closure work), environmental review (FAA and categorical exclusion processes), and non‑aeronautical impacts such as light and landscape buffering. Staff said project design will be sequenced to align with the county's runway work and that the county will submit the FAA CE/CAT‑X coordination materials. Planning and P&Z location & extent review will follow; staff will return to the BOCC with a resolution and public hearing schedule (first reading planned), after which Planning Commission consideration would occur.

What's next: staff will bring location & extent materials to Planning and a BOCC resolution for first reading; the county and Atlantic plan to coordinate design phasing with the airport's runway project to reduce conflicts.