Phoenix’s Aviation Department gets a green light to buy and lease land owned by the Aviation Department.
The land, made up of approximately 3,800 acres, is split into three areas, each with its own plan. The biggest chunk — more than 3,300 acres — includes Sky Harbor International Airport terminals, air cargo and ground transportation.
Aviation Director Jim Bennett told council members Tuesday that the department needs to proactively buy parcels on a voluntary basis between 32nd and 44th streets to support their business partners, like the Air National Guard.
“There are a new generation of aerial tankers that are coming into the fleet and their current facilities do not accommodate this new tanker so they need additional property in order to remain competitive with other bases that are vying for those tankers,” said Bennett.
The Aviation Department plans to buy parcels between 24th and 32nd street when they become available to combine them with land it already owns and offer long-term leases to businesses.
“If we dispose of the land today it creates a one-time source of revenue,” said Christine Mackay, economic development director. “But if we enter into a 50 year land lease, it creates 50 years of certain revenue for the airport moving forward.”
Todd Sanders, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, praised the action.
“Continuing along this, I think, strategic path of growing the airport the right way will allow us to build out in a way that we can attract more international carriers,” he said. “And I’d say more importantly, take care of the existing carriers that are here today that are so important for us so that we can reach the world.”
