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Commission clears relocation of airport hangar, maintenance building for Southbridge project
Summary
The commission approved a location‑and‑extent review to relocate a 10‑plane hangar and a maintenance building at 3500 Airport Road to accommodate the Southbridge roadway; the city will fund relocation and utility reconnections (estimated $1.0–$1.25M) and agreed not to proceed until Southbridge is finalized.
The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a location‑and‑extent review allowing the city to relocate two airport buildings at 3500 Airport Road — a largely open 10‑plane metal hangar (roughly 12,000 sq ft) and a separate maintenance building — in order to accommodate the Southbridge roadway alignment.
Planner Watkins Fulgram said the hangar will be deconstructed and reconstructed a short distance away; the maintenance building will be demolished and replaced with a new structure of similar size, and utilities (power, water, gas, septic) will be reconnected. City engineer Ryan Gordon said the city will pay to “make the owners whole” by funding relocation and utility connection; staff estimated the relocation work for these buildings in the range of $1.0–$1.25 million. Gordon added that the hangar will not require fire sprinklers because it is open on three sides and sprinklers could freeze; the maintenance building will include sprinklers where engines and flammable materials are handled.
Neighborhood commenter Carol Parker of Park East expressed concern about construction traffic routing and asked that the city limit large trucks from using neighborhood streets during work; staff said construction access will be limited at a gate and the city expects to keep construction vehicles on Airport Road rather than routing through Park East. Commissioners noted the relocation will not proceed to physical work until City Council finalizes the Southbridge funding and schedule.
