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Clermont County reviews 20-year airport master plan, recommends runway extension and $21–22M phased buildout
Summary
Consultant Wolpert presented a 20-year master plan for Clermont County Airport that recommends runway extensions (FAA minimum ~4,400 ft, optional 5,000 ft), taxiway realignments, and landside development. Estimated program cost is about $21–22 million; Wolpert said roughly $7.4 million could be FAA‑eligible.
Wolpert consultants on July 23 presented a 20-year master plan for the Clermont County Airport, showing alternatives to extend the runway from roughly 3,500 feet toward 4,400 feet (the FAA-estimated requirement) with an optional buildout to 5,000 feet and related taxiway and landside changes. Tony Davis, Wolpert project manager, said the plan "presents a safe and effective use of the airport for the future" and preserves the county's ability to seek FAA and Ohio Department of Transportation funds without committing the county to construction.
The master plan forecasts growth from about 120 based aircraft today to roughly 160 over the planning horizon and projects about 44,000 annual operations. Wolpert recommended retaining the airport's FAA runway design code in the small (A1) aircraft category while accommodating a broader range of general‑aviation users and potential future advanced air mobility activity.
Key engineering recommendations include relocating the entrance road to clear taxiway object‑free areas; removing a lead‑in pavement section and some high‑speed runway exits in favor of standard 90‑degree taxi connectors; and extending taxiways to the runway ends associated with the runway lengthening. Wolpert estimated total program costs (excluding most private hangar development) at about $21–22 million and said approximately $7.4 million of that work would be eligible for FAA funding, with additional state and local shares and private development filling the remainder.
Kenny, the county's grants coordinator, noted the FAA provided about $422,000 to develop the master plan and said the county contracted with Wolpert in March 2023. Wolpert said it plans to submit the Airport Layout Plan to the FAA and ODOT for review and signature and expects FAA review before year end, but that FAA scheduling is outside the county's control.
Wolpert also described optional landside improvements (hangars and maintenance facilities), noting most hangar areas would be privately developed; the plan shows five 80×80-foot county‑acquired box hangars as an exception. The consultant offered a final community outreach meeting at the county's discretion and said the plan does not itself obligate construction but enables future grant applications.
Commissioners asked procedural questions but took no construction commitments during the presentation. The board will receive the final documents for submission to the FAA and ODOT.
