Pocatello Regional Airport commission outlines rental-rate work, hangar demand and FAA tower timeline
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Summary
Airport manager Alan Evans and commission chair Molly Baceres told council the commission is updating non-aviation rental rates based on recent appraisals, addressing strong hangar demand, developing an air-carrier incentive framework (no dedicated funds yet), and coordinating with the FAA on a new control tower expected to break ground in mid-2026.
Alan Evans, airport manager for the Pocatello Regional Airport, and commission chair Molly Baceres briefed the council on the airport commission’s priorities and near-term projects.
Baceres said the commission’s primary recent focus has been setting equitable, competitive rental rates for the airport’s non-aviation property, using recent appraisals and a five‑year appraisal cadence. "We are required because of our grant assurances that we take from the FAA to make sure that we are charging fair market value," Baceres told the council. She said earlier appraisals had returned rates that were too high for potential tenants, prompting a revised approach to set workable lease terms.
Evans said aviation-side planning is up to date, financed with FAA aviation dollars, while the non-aviation master plan is older and will be updated with city planning staff. He reported strong hangar demand: "The city owns nine hangars and those are full, and they have a waiting list." Evans said a recently developed parcel (the former circle track) could support about 35–38 new hangars once sewer, water and gas infrastructure are installed.
On airline attraction, Evans described an "air carrier incentive program" the airport is drafting to outline fee waivers, landing-fee adjustments or revenue guarantees commonly used to attract service; he said the program is not yet funded. "It's a new program that we're developing," he said, adding the FAA has recommended airports prepare such plans.
The airport also flagged a major FAA project: Evans said the FAA will fund a new control tower, with construction expected to begin around June 2026; he said the facility may not be fully operational until 2029–2030 after equipment installation and testing.
Council members pressed the commission on its role in local development decisions — specifically the Crest project — and on communication between the commission and the city. Baceres said the commission was not involved in early public announcements for Crest and requested closer coordination going forward. The commission and staff agreed to bring proposed code updates and the airport non-aviation master plan to council for review once legal and planning work are complete.
Evans and Baceres left council with action items including routing code updates through legal review before council consideration and working with planning staff on the non-aviation master-plan update.