Planning Commission approves Gardiner Municipal Airport terminal site plan, contingent on administrative plat

The Gardner City Planning Commission voted Oct. 23 to approve the site plan for the Gardiner Municipal Airport terminal, subject to the condition that an administrative plat be signed and recorded before building permits are issued.

Staff described the airport parcel (annexed in 1979 under Ordinance 1410) and said the project affects roughly 1 acre: demolish the existing terminal and construct a new 4,400‑square‑foot terminal building, retain the World War II‑era hangar, reconstruct the parking lot and add stormwater and water‑quality features. Staff noted the FAA generally discourages new trees on airport property and that the elevations call for brick, masonry and metal awnings; two new freestanding canopies will link the terminal and hangar to the runway.

The airport manager (Speaker 11) told commissioners the new terminal includes a large divisible community space and pilot amenities such as a flight‑planning area and pilot rest facilities. He said the project is contingent on receiving an FAA terminal grant — which staff and the manager reported would cover approximately 95% of the cost, leaving the airport (not the city general fund) to supply a local match (the manager estimated the local share would be on the order of $200,000 on a $4,000,000 budget).

Commissioners asked about demolition sequence and operations during construction; the manager said the existing building will remain until construction requires demolition and that temporary accommodations for flight planning will likely be arranged. The commission approved the site plan by voice vote, conditioned on the administrative plat being recorded prior to issuance of a building permit.

Staff noted federal funding is not yet final and that the project schedule and construction depend on FAA grant award and completing the platting and permitting steps.