The Kenai City Council unanimously adopted a resolution that would approve the execution of a lease of airport reserve lands using the standard lease form between the City of Kenai and Joel Caldwell. The lease terminates on June 30, 2022.
Caldwell proposes improvements including additional aircraft storage space, restroom facilities, and paving, with an estimated $100,000 value of improvements to be completed within two years of signing the lease. Activities noted on the application is aircraft storage and maintenance. The requested term is 17 years, according to memo documents.
The proposed development would be mutually beneficial and would conform with the Kenai Municipal Code for zoning, Kenai’s Comprehensive Plan, the Airport Land Use Plan, the Airport Layout Plan, Federal Aviation Administration regulations, Airport Master Plan, Airport Improvement Program grant assurances, and Airport operations.
Council Member Henry Knackstedt told council:
“This particular parcel has a kind of an old, almost dilapidated hangar on it. It’s made of 2 x 4s and kind of a sand lot there, as a matter of fact, it’s called the sand lot, but I’m really happy that Mr. Caldwell is planning on putting a $100,000 of improvements onto that and I’m sure it’ll improve the surface and the building itself and I’m fully in support of this.”
The parcel of land is within the Airport Light Industrial Zone. According to municipal code, the purpose of that zone is to protect the viability of the Kenai Municipal Airport as a significant resource to the community by encouraging compatible land uses and reducing hazards that may endanger the lives and property of the public and aviation users. The proposed aeronautical use is a permitted and compatible use in the Airport Light Industrial Zone.
In addition, the proposed use complies with the Imagine Kenai 2030 Comprehensive Plan by supporting development on lease lots that is in alignment with the with the Municipal Airport’s marketing strategy.