Airport district offers development option

By ALLISON GATLIN
Valley Press Staff Writer

The district has a precise development plan, approved by Kern County, which governs future development at the airport. By applying this plan, developers can bypass the often lengthy process of applying through the Kern County Planning Department.

"We become our own planning department, just like a city," General Manager Stu Witt said.

It is not uncommon for prospective tenants to approach the district and want to know what their options are for locating their business to the airport, he said.

District engineering staff will then prepare plans for placing the business on the airport based on the business' needs.

"The engineering piece of that is a considerable cost of doing business," Witt said.

To recoup those costs, the district approved a list of various fees, ranging from $1,115 for the initial precise development plan document to $150 for a plan modification.

Additionally, the district can prepare environmental impact reports and associated documents.

The fee schedule lists a $10,000 minimum deposit for preparation of an EIR and $240 for use of a prior environmental impact report.

"The district isn't trying to make money on this. We're trying to save the client time. And time is money," Witt said. "We have the expertise in environmental, in civil engineering, in management."

The fees are the same that would be charged by the county planning department had the prospective business gone through it instead.

However, staffing shortages have led to delays of several months for projects through the county department.

Tom Welling, field representative for Kern County 2nd District Supervisor Don Maben, said he frequently fields complaints about project delays of several months at the county department.

"The clients are more interested in a timely response than the fees," Witt said. "This is not a way to extort money. This is a way to increase efficiency."

The board approved the fee schedule on a 4-0 vote, with director Dick Rutan absent.

"I think it's nice for people coming here that we can offer this as a package. You don't have to go to the county (as well)," board President Jim Balentine said.

The district's precise development plan process is getting its first practical test as Flight Research begins construction of a new hangar at the airport.

"We've been marching down this path with the Planning Department on this as a trial run," Witt said.

The district board of directors will review the fees in the coming months as more projects are developed under the plan to ensure they cover, but do not exceed, the costs to the district.

agatlin@avpress.com