Airport items, zoning code update go to supervisors

Before diving into an update of Title 18 dealing with zoning and development standards, the Carson City Board of Supervisors will weigh several items related to the Carson City Airport.

Their meeting starts 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the community center board room, 851 E. William St.

First, supervisors will consider two appointments to the Airport Authority, one for a manufacturer operating within three miles of the airport, and the other for a fixed base operator at the airport. Each would be for a four-year term.

“The Airport Authority Act for Carson City requires the Board of Supervisors to appoint the following seven members to the Airport Authority: one member of the general public, one pilot who owns and operates an aircraft based at the airport, one city official, two manufacturers within three miles of the airport and two fixed base operators at the airport,” reads the agenda. “Karl G. Hutter is seeking reappointment for a second term as the manufacturer member. A new application was submitted by Michaela Flint for the fixed base operator position.”

Hutter, of Reno, said his eligibility stems from his executive experience at Click Bond Inc., located adjacent to the airport.

“Additionally, as a pilot operating from and calling KCXP ‘home base’ for many years, the continued financial and operational health of the airport, and the growth of its value to the citizens and the economy of our city and region are personal passions,” according to Hutter’s application.

Flint lives in Carson.

“As a flight instructor who operates at the airport every day, I find it very important to contribute to a safe and prosperous airport,” according to Flint’s application.

After the potential appointments, supervisors will review a business impact statement and the first reading of a proposed ordinance revising city code related to airport operations.

“This item includes a proposed ordinance that, if enacted, would revise Title 19 of the Carson City Municipal Code (CCMC) to ensure the proper regulation of common-interest communities, or hangar associations, that engage in through-the-fence operations at the airport,” reads a staff summary. “Specifically, the proposed ordinance revises (1) CCMC 19.02.020.050 to expressly allow the Carson City Airport Authority to impose a fee for creating a secured airport access system, (2) CCMC 19.02.020.200 to require liability insurance for aircraft based at the airport and (3) various provisions of CCMC Chapter 19.03 concerning through-the-fence operations at the airport.”

The Texas Department of Transportation has noted that “in general, the FAA defines through the fence (TTF) operations as any activity or use of real property of an aeronautical or non-aeronautical nature that is located outside (or off) of airport property but has access to the airport’s runway and/or taxiway system.”

A staff report for Thursday’s meeting states the Airport Authority “began exploring potential revisions to CCMC Chapter 19.03 after learning that a developer with TTF rights wanted to form a hangar association.”

“The proposed ordinance would allow hangar association members to utilize TTF rights through a secured access system, and the airport’s additional costs for implementing and maintaining that system would be offset by a new fee, applicable to TTF operators that are also common-interest communities.”

State law required a business impact statement for the proposed ordinance.

“In response to the notice and solicitation for comment sent Sept. 3, 2024, Carson City received two written comments from tenants leasing space within the airport concerned about paying additional fees; however, because the tenants lease space within the airport, they will not be affected by the new fees for TTF users,” reads the BIS. “Additionally, Carson City received one comment, via phone, from a consultant on behalf of multiple property owners that do or could have TTF operations that expressed no concerns regarding the new fees for TTF users.”

The new fee would generate an estimated $98,000 annually, according to the BIS, and would only impact adjacent hangar associations with TTF operations, not current airport tenants or other TTF operators.

In other action, supervisors will entertain the first reading of two ordinances to update Title 18 of city code dealing with zoning and the Title 18 appendix containing the city’s development standards.

On Sept. 25, planning commissioners unanimously recommended approval of the Title 18 update and a new table of permitted uses in specific zoning districts, which make up the first ordinance supervisors will consider.

During that meeting, planning commissioners also approved revised development standards including height limitations on buildings downtown (four stories for Carson Street, three for Curry Street, unless applicant obtains special use permit), new provisions for accessory dwelling units and other items, which together make up the second ordinance to be heard Thursday.

Ordinances must receive two public hearings before adoption.

Over several years, the city’s Community Development Department and the District Attorney’s Office have been working on the update to make code clearer and consistent with state and federal law. The drafting process has involved public workshops with the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission.