Company interested in leasing airport’s land

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This land south of Goodrich and adjacent to N.D. Highway 20 may have interest from a manufacturing plant, according to a Jamestown Regional Airport Authority member. John M. Steiner The Sun

Talk about it

A panel pondered possible plats for Jamestown Regional Airport Wednesday after a manufacturing company expressed interest in leasing land there.

“We need to know what we have to work with and what we have to offer,” said Keith Veil, a member of the Airport Growth Committee of the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority.

The committee will provide recommendations to the JRAA regarding lot sizes and restrictions, and the JRAA will have the final say.

A manufacturing company expressed interest in about 10 acres of land on airport property, particularly a piece just south of Goodrich Corp.’s plant on the west side of the “X” formed by the airport’s runways.

“They like that location. They’ve looked at a number of locations in Jamestown and other cities,” said Jim Boyd, JRAA chairman.

That location would also be suitable because sewer, storm water and water services are already there.

Steve Aldinger, project manager with Interstate Engineering, said he would bring separate estimated costs for an engineer’s drawing, platting and pinning — establishing the corners of the land by putting metal rebar into it — to the JRAA’s next meeting so the authority can decide which of the three options it wants.

The manufacturing company came to the JRAA through economic development channels, Boyd said, and liked the airport location because it’s close to ground transportation.

One concern expressed at the meeting was whether Goodrich Corp. has the right of first refusal on the property directly south of them. If it does, the property would have to be offered to Goodrich for lease first.

Another question was whether the North Dakota Department of Transportation would permit another approach onto N.D. Highway 20.

Aldinger said there were currently four approaches, and five per mile were generally allowed.

However, adding a frontage road to the property is also a possibility.

“I think we should put a price on (the land) and advertise it,” said Mayor Katie Andersen, JRAA member, adding that there are several hotels interested in building in Jamestown.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453 or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, airport