Airport acquires 352 acres
Goal is to preserve land for future use
There is some truth to the assumption the 4 percent increase to the airport's land could mean room for a new runway, rebuilt terminals or extra parking but for now, the department says such possibilities are "pure speculation."
The land was merely bought to preserve the airport's buffer zone and protect its existing 7,690 acres from encroachment, said airport spokeswoman Barbara Gann.
"There are no plans," Gann said. "We purchased this property because it was adjacent to two other properties that we own. The goal is to preserve the land for future airport development."
Gann said any development is undetermined at this point, but according to the Salt Lake City mayor's office, the airport is already in initial stages of developing a proposal for expanding.
A layout plan of the airport, updated in May of 2006, recommends the airport realign one of its runways and add a fourth parallel runway by 2025 to minimize delays.
Discussion on the airport's expansion stalled temporarily while the future of major airline Delta was uncertain, says Salt Lake City Councilman Eric Jergensen, but now that the airline is financially more stable, the talks have resumed in earnest.
A formal plan that outlines what changes need to be made including the possibility of rebuilding each of the airport's terminals and how long it will take to implement the changes should be nailed down within the next nine to 12 months, Jergensen said.
"The land purchase is part of the long range master plan for the airport," Jergensen said. "This is a very significant purchase, and it's supported by the council, because ... the airport really is, in many ways, the goose that lays the golden egg, and we have to look far ahead to make sure that goose is healthy and well-maintained and will be taken care of for the future. It's very critical to our entire economic system for this entire state."
Jergensen said the land purchase was a strategic move to give the airport more flexibility for expansion, and, considering the plans of land owners Skypark International LC and Mountain Enterprises LLC, which sold the land to the airport on Wednesday, the timing was just right.
Wendell Jacobson, a co-owner of the family-run real estate companies based in Sanpete County, said he and his two brothers were in the process of getting approval to develop the land into commercial big-box businesses when they caught the airport's eye and the airport made an offer.
Recent comments
Rocky Mountain power is currently attempting to buy up a new power...
Anonymous | Jan. 3, 2008 at 10:28 a.m.
It might be only another year or two before the general realization...
lowonoil | Jan. 3, 2008 at 10:23 a.m.
The long-range plan is to demolish the eastern half of the...
4th runway | Jan. 3, 2008 at 9:15 a.m.
- Normal fire season predicted 5:50 p.m.
- Kids coping parents' addictions 5:35 p.m.
- Utah Co. man arrest in sex assault 5:30 p.m.
- S.Salt Lake mayor vetoes funding 5:29 p.m.
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal 5:02 p.m.
- Eagle Mountain gets 5th well 4:44 p.m.
- Utah eligible for federal flu grants 4:05 p.m.
- Attempted murder case refiled 4:05 p.m.
- Cannon sued over unpaid bills 4:04 p.m.
- Women lose court bid to ski jump 4:02 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
137 - LDS seminary principal arrested
135 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
134 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
91 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
83 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I would wear more than a face mask to go in there, full body bio hazard suit!
Demonrats and taxes are coming for you next.
I like Milsap a whole lot but we should let hime go. That is a lot of money...
I hate to lose Paul. He plays the game the way it should be played. Humble,...
Any tax on any one hurts us all.
Either way Portland dominates the Jazz with ease next year! Go Blazers!!!
A good guide for the average person, but for even the average fan, this stuff...
re: Lee | 4:31 a.m. July 10, 2009 What exactly is the diferrence between...
I think this should be a restructuring year for the jazz. Let's use this year...
Thank you McKay for this much much needed article. I have been a member of...


