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Authority outlines site, funding and next steps for proposed Richmond Hill general aviation airport
Summary
At its inaugural meeting Aug. 18, the Richmond Hill–Bryan County Airport Authority presented a project timeline and funding plan for a proposed 6,700-foot general aviation airport at Site 5 (Belfast & Highway 17), and detailed required environmental and financial studies.
Trip Addison outlined the Richmond Hill–Bryan County Airport Authority’s preferred site and next steps for a proposed general aviation airport, telling the newly formed board that Phase One and Phase Two studies identified Site 5 (Belfast & Highway 17) as the most suitable location for a 6,700-foot runway designed strictly for general aviation.
"Phase One kicked off in 2022," Addison said, noting the initial study by Holt Consulting was published in 2023 and found shortages of hangars and landing access for general aviation in the Savannah region. He said Phase Two evaluated five sites and used Midway Airport wind data to determine runway orientation that meets Federal Aviation Administration requirements.
Addison listed the board’s immediate next steps: a Georgia Tech financial analysis to estimate local tax revenues for the city, county and school board; a Master Plan to lay out hangars, a fixed-base operator and related infrastructure; and an Environmental Assessment required by the National Environmental Policy Act and FAA to identify environmental impacts, cultural resources and needed mitigation strategies. He also noted a GDOT regional airport study launched in June and expected to take about a year to validate Holt Consulting’s findings.
On funding, Addison said GDOT can enable a 90 percent federal match, the state traditionally provides about 5 percent, and the new Airport Authority is responsible for roughly 5 percent plus ancillary costs that may not qualify for federal match. "The Authority was granted bonding authority via state legislation," he said, and the board expects private developers to build vertical assets such as hangars, an FBO and a fuel farm that would become taxable real property.
Council and county officials will also review a Georgia Tech financial analysis once complete; Addison said the study will estimate local tax revenues and inform affordability discussions. The board set two additional meeting dates (Oct. 20 and Dec. 15) to continue planning and directed the public to submit comments to airport@bryancountyga.gov.
The board emphasized the project is planned as a general aviation facility — not commercial or military — and that additional environmental and regional studies will precede any permitting or major expenditures.
