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Airport lease reworked; county told rent will rise with appraisal and FAA requirements
Summary
Airport staff updated commissioners on revisions to a proposed aviation complex lease: the project was reconfigured to include apron space for large aircraft, DOT/FAA requirements prompted scope and infrastructure changes, and updated appraisal work increased rent from approximately 5¢/sq ft to about 9.2¢/sq ft (raising annual rent estimates from ~$38,000 to ~$62–63,000). City of LaGrange review remains pending.
Airport staff told the board an initial proposal for a 270,000‑square‑foot industrial aviation complex was reworked into two 270,000‑square‑foot facilities plus a 100,000‑square‑foot apron to allow aircraft staging and component work. Staff said federal‑grant conditions administered by Georgia DOT and FAA obliged changes in the development plan, and the additional apron and taxiway work increased infrastructure needs and costs.
Staff reported an appraisal change that altered rental terms from about 5¢ per square foot to approximately 9.2¢ per square foot, increasing the county’s expected annual rent from roughly $38,000 to about $62,000–$63,000. The county is awaiting review and comments from the city of LaGrange, which is a joint owner of the airport, before bringing a finalized lease back to the commissioners for consideration. Staff emphasized DOT/FAA coordination and that the application process for approvals will take years.
Commissioners were advised the matter would not be on the evening agenda because the city’s input is pending; staff characterized the revised arrangement as beneficial to the airport should the parties finalize terms.
