Perkins family and Embry Riddle outline private airfield plan near Chino Valley; council to consider rezoning

Tom Perkins, president of Perkins Ranch Inc., told a joint session of the Chino Valley Town Council and Planning & Zoning Commission that his family proposes to build a private airfield on Perkinsville Road, beginning with a runway in Phase 1 that the team described as “a 5,000 by 70 foot, 5 foot runway.” The presentation said flight operations could begin in late 2026 or early 2027 after construction and permitting, and that early capital costs for Phase 1 are expected to be about $15,000,000, paid by the Perkins family and project partners rather than the town.

The proposal seeks a zoning change to AR‑36 and a conditional use permit (CUP). Staff explained AR‑36’s purpose under the town’s 2040 general plan and noted that airports were added as a conditional use to permit case‑by‑case council review. The project team — including representatives from Embry Riddle — walked commissioners and council members through site maps, phased development, airspace, noise contours and proposed mitigation.

Why it matters: town leaders and residents raised questions about noise, traffic on Perkinsville Road, public safety and long‑term controls on the airfield’s size and use. Supporters…