Tenant pitches hangar and training operation as board weighs sites, utilities and lease terms

Manchester City Airport board members spent the bulk of the meeting on long‑term planning for new hangars, utility needs and lease language after a tenant candidate introduced himself.

Alexa, a staff member leading the ALP review, showed the airport layout plan and noted FAA approval of the orange‑boxed potential hanger locations; the board focused discussion on site 14 as a likely initial spot but flagged grade and airspace constraints that may cap heights at about 20 feet there. Staff and consultants said a 35‑foot peak for an 80x80 hanger would likely require moving sites west (toward sites 16/18) or doing earthwork to lower the grade to preserve airspace clearances.

Jonathan Walter, of Walter Aviation, introduced himself and his background in running FBOs and airport operations, and outlined an operational plan that includes flight training (including unusual‑attitude and spin training), classroom/office space, and room to house three or more aircraft. He said he is considering a steel frame 80x80 hangar with roughly an 18‑foot sidewall and about a 35‑foot peak, and that the community benefit would come through more fuel sales, increased activity and potentially aircraft rental services.

Utility and funding issues were central to the discussion. Staff said electrical service to a hangar is typically the tenant’s responsibility from the transformer, and that federal grant funds for the airport project would not cover the first 50 feet of apron paving in front of a hangar (state funds can cover that portion). Alexa advised that some federal funds are scheduled for fiscal year 28 for grading and that state grant applications are due May 15; board members agreed to pursue state grants now to accelerate site preparation and to coordinate with the planner (Junior) and the state program director (Shane Wright) on applications and schedules. Staff also noted internet options at the site are currently limited (satellite/Starlink or Verizon home internet) though future fiber remains a possibility.

The board reviewed a circulated draft lease and identified drafting errors (incorrect county names and other copy‑paste remnants) and discussed tying the lease to a separate "minimum standards" document so that operational rules can be updated without renegotiating leases. Members asked to soften a strict subleasing prohibition so tenants could reasonably sublet unused aircraft space while keeping the original tenant on the lease.

Next steps: the board and Jonathan agreed to walk the site after the meeting, staff will follow up with FAA airspace filing timing (noted as typically 60–90 days), and the group tentatively set a pre‑construction site visit for April 23 (11 a.m.) and an earlier meeting on March 19. Board members noted that grading or construction is unlikely to begin this year without accelerated state funding, but grading could be feasible next spring depending on grant timing.