Proposed expansion would solve space crunch — but supervisors question financial benefit
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, KennettTimes.com
New Garden Flying Field. A proposal to add hangar space would alleviate a long waiting list for hangars, but local officals worry about costs. Photo courtesy, New Garden Flying Field.
NEW GARDEN — New Garden Flying Field, the township’s municipally-owned general aviation airport, could be growing, but township supervisors expressed concerns about how an expansion would impact the bottom line.
Airport Manager Jonathan Martin presented a proposal to the township’s Board of Supervisors regarding the addition of new hangars at the New Garden Airport on Monday.
“Four months ago the board approved unanimously the implementation of a land-lease agreement for the creation of new hangars at the New Garden Airport,” Martin said, “Since then I have been in contact with several interested parties including two developers for the construction of two new rows of hangars at the airport.”
The proposed hangars to be constructed are of the “T” and “Box varieties. The smaller, T-shaped hangers are designed to house smaller, recreational aircraft, whereas the larger, box-style hangars are designed to hold larger aircraft such as twin engine propeller planes or personal jets. These two types of hangars are situated in a row with seven T-hangars and two box hangers comprising the rectangular hangar unit.
Out of all the offers, Martin said he advocated the proposal created by Dan Haug of The Hangar Corporation of America.
“The major difference between Mr. Haug’s proposal and the others is the return,” Martin said. “The opportunity here presents zero out of pocket expense for the airport and the township, to build newer modern facilities, and potentially breathe new life into the facility.”
This alludes to the HCA’s willingness to front all construction costs for the creation of the hangars, profiting only from the initial sale of the units.
The demand for hangar space at New Garden Airport is high, Martin said.
“As it stands we have a waiting list of about 27 people for the use of our current facilities,” he said.
The airport currently houses approximately 100 aircraft in hangar/enclosed facilities and an additional 130 on open-air grounds. The township also stands to benefit from the additional revenue generated by the use of these new facilities, “the initial development of this hangar complex will see $6,500 a year based on the land-lease rate and increased fuel sales of about $15,000 per year,” Martin told the board of supervisors.
The new hangars will be available for purchase or for rent to interested clients. Those who opt to purchase hangars will pay the initial cost of the unit ($65,000 for a T-hangar and $120,000 for a box hangar) as well as the annual land-lease fee ranging anywhere from 20 cents to 65 cents per square foot, as yet to be determined.
The proposal was met with some flak from the township, however.
“One thing is for sure,” said Supervisors Chairman R.J. Perrotti, “we’re not making much.”
Vice Chairman Warren Reynolds also raised concern about a possible tax increase caused by the installation of the new facilities.
“My understanding that the airport is tax exempt,” Martin responded, also assuring the board that airport insurance costs would only increase nominally.
Still, supervisors appeared doubtful that all of the $6,500 in extra revenue would add to the bottom line.
“In my experience, we can expect to see some of the revenue from that $6500 go to maintenance costs like snow plowing for the additional taxiways or grass cutting, and hangar upkeep, and various other incidentals,” Reynolds said.
The airport gains 98% of its revenue from hangar and fuel sales and, despite the relatively small income that would be generated by the new hangars, Martin said he sees the addition of the facilities as an opportunity to revamp the New Garden Airport.
“I really can’t say that there are any negatives to this,” he said, “the airport as a whole will benefit from this project.”
By creating new, top-of-the-line amenities that will attract a wealthier more business-oriented clientele, making the airport a hub for business based activity, Martin said he hopes to turn New Garden Flying Field into a launch pad for community development and help to increase commerce within New Garden Township and the surrounding areas.
The airport’s biggest annual showcase, The New Garden Festival of Flight, Air and Car Show, draws tens of thousands of visitors to the area each year. Scheduled for June 11 and 12 this year, there will be the usual compliment of stunt flying, vintage aircraft, food and fun events.
