Pease Development Authority approves Thermo Fisher hangar and subdivision at Flight Line Road

The Pease Development Authority board on April 15 approved a subdivision and site‑review application from Thermo Fisher Scientific to create two lots at the airport and build a single‑story aircraft hangar and small office at 85 Flight Line Road.

The board’s approval, taken while the PDA sat as the planning board pursuant to RSA authority, included conditions drawn from the director of engineering’s memo: the applicant must coordinate with PDA staff and city public works to ensure reconstruction of Flight Line Road to Portsmouth construction standards; provide engineered cross sections depicting proposed utilities; revise site drawings to clearly delineate work that will be performed now versus work reserved for future projects; and finalize proposed fence limits and soil‑management measures. Staff had also noted two requested waivers — a limited sidewalk connection to the street for security reasons and a cul‑de‑sac radius waiver — and reported the City of Portsmouth had reviewed those waiver requests.

Neil Hansen, the project civil engineer with Heinbonds, told the board the project will extend utilities from Edmond Street down Flight Line Road, construct a turnaround for plows and emergency vehicles, and manage stormwater with a subsurface filtration unit subject to an Alteration of Terrain permit from DES. Hansen said DES comments had been received and the project team expected alteration permits by the end of the month.

Public commenters including Greg McKenna, a long‑time corporate flight‑department operator at the field, urged approval, saying the proposal supports corporate aviation and local economic activity. "The board has done a great job building out the trade port — this is positive for corporate aviation," McKenna said.

Board members pressed the applicant on whether Thermo Fisher would rebuild the full length of Flight Line Road or only the portion in front of its leasehold. The applicant team described a draft lease obligating Thermo Fisher to reconstruct the road to city standards in front of their leasehold and said the PDA could consider a board‑subject reimbursement for reconstruction between Hampton and the leasehold edge. Early ballpark estimates for full reconstruction were cited in discussion as roughly $700,000 to $1,000,000; the board asked staff to return with final figures before any reimbursement decision.

The site‑review approval includes a requirement that the applicant work with PDA staff to depict future‑use limits on the plans so subsequent users and projects can rely on a clear scope. Both the subdivision and the site‑review motions were made, seconded and carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the applicant will respond to DES comments, finalize required cross sections and plan revisions, and return to PDA staff and the board as required to document road‑reconstruction costs and to obtain any necessary lease approvals before reimbursement commitments are put to the board.