Airport Projects & Master Plan History

The Airport Master Plan is the guiding document for airport development over a 20 year period. Ideally, it will be updated or examined every 5-10 years, or as conditions warrant. A Master Plan will contain development for the near term (less than 5 years), mid term (10 years), and later term. Normally a Master Plan will be updated before the later term development takes place.

Click here to see an aerial view of the projects.

The previous Master Plan for the airport was developed by the Michigan Bureau of Aeronautics in the early 1970's. It was not adopted by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners until 1986. Its proposed development includes a northeast/southwest runway that would close both Bowen and Tooley Roads. The implementation of this plan would involve the acquisition of approximately 304 acres of property and the relocation of approximately 20 residences.

In 1989, there was an update prepared of the Livingston County Airport Master Plan. The plan that was recommended looked almost exactly like the approved plan on file, although it did recommend additional property acquisition due to changes in FAA standards. This plan was not adopted by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners in 1994 due to strong opposition from people who live near the airport.

A new Master Plan update was begun in late 1996. Whitworth-Borta, Inc. of Lansing was hired to create a new Airport Master Plan. The firm Whitworth-Borta, Inc. has since been purchased by Mead & Hunt of Madison, Wisconsin which has maintained the Lansing office. Only aviation related engineering is performed by the Lansing office. Mead & Hunt/Whitworth-Borta was given six goals, objectives, and requirements in their preparation of the Airport Master Plan. These included:

	Implement current FAA Design Standards (Required for any alternative which is submitted for FAA Airspace Review.)
	Implement an Instrument Approach Procedure (Install an Instrument Landing System (ILS))
	Implement the facilities necessary for an Instrument Approach Procedure (Runway length of 5000' with associated safety areas)
	Plan for a Crosswind Runway
	Develop Additional Building Area for future development
	Minimize impacts to local roads, while allowing for necessary airport development. (Closure of local roads is not an option, relocation is an option, however, kept to a minimum if necessary)

Mead & Hunt developed a total of fifteen alternatives that met some or all of the above stated goals. Several alternatives were removed from consideration due to feedback from other governmental agencies, and others were determined to be impractical due to financial or other considerations. The alternative that was selected by the Livingston County Board of Commissioners satisfies all the goals of the project, with the exception of planning for a crosswind runway.