Sky Harbor East Side RFP deferred for two weeks as county readies air-quality, noise analysis presentation

The DeKalb County Operations Committee voted to defer consideration of the Sky Harbor East Side aviation development RFP for two weeks to allow the county's consultant, HMMH, to present the air-quality and noise analysis and answer technical questions.

Airport staff asked for the short deferral after long-running consultant and partner review; staff said HMMH and the air-quality/noise consultant would present their analysis in the next ops meeting. "We would like to request that [HMMH] be able to make a presentation of our East Side development analysis," a staff representative said.

Commissioner Ted Terry said he welcomed the environmental and noise study presentation and urged staff and negotiators to consider a stronger community benefits approach for developments likely to have localized impacts. He urged thinking beyond training programs and toward long-term mitigation and investment for nearby neighborhoods, including potential health, tree-planting or other mitigation commitments.

Other commissioners asked about lease-term structure; one commissioner said the proposal included a 50-year term but discussed the possibility of a 30-year base with renewal options and asked that any renewal include additional benefits. Staff said contract language and procurement constraints (the item came from an RFP) will shape how terms can be modified, and that procurement and the law department will be involved in negotiations.

Next steps: staff will distribute the technical analysis for commissioner review and HMMH will present its findings at the next operations meeting. The committee deferred the RFP item by voice vote.