Waukegan airport expansion would benefit Lake County, officials say
The Lake County Forest Preserve District is expected to extend a nonbinding letter of intent to allow planning for a potential $150 million expansion at Waukegan National Airport to continue.
Originally approved in April 2017, the letter says the district would be willing to consider granting rights to about 52 acres for the project, which includes building a new, longer runway.
But a delay in a required environmental assessment brought airport officials back to the district to ask the letter of intent be extended to provide "comfort in its continued planning process," according to information presented to forest district commissioners.
The general aviation airport on Waukegan's north side, which handles private, corporate, business, executive and government aircraft, is owned and operated by the Waukegan Port District. Forest district buy-in is an essential part of the plan, airport authorities say.
Port district officials for years have discussed replacing and lengthening the existing 6,000-foot runway, which is near the end of its useful life. Federal guidelines now require 7,000-foot runways to meet safety requirements.
Airport officials have said the expansion would allow for more corporate flights, including nonstop overseas, and could open the door for cargo and commercial traffic.
Upgrades also would retain and attract tenants and jobs and provide a boost for the facility, which already is an economic engine for the entire county, they contend.
Skip Goss, airport general manager, made the case for extending the letter of intent to a joint meeting of three forest board committees Monday.
"It's of great importance we make improvements to this airport," he said.
Federal funding would be expected to pay about three-quarters of the cost, leaving about $40 million as a local share, according to Goss. A task force to consider how to raise that amount is being coordinated by Lake County Partners, he added.
The port district has taxing authority but never used it.
Some forest district commissioners questioned the potential sources of local funds and value of the project.
"I'm just a little leery because this (expansion) has been talked about for so long," Commissioner Judy Martini said.
Commissioner Craig Taylor, a retired commercial pilot, said the expansion as envisioned would attract larger aircraft and potentially offset local taxes.
"Look at this on a broader scale than a tiny, regional airport," Taylor said.
This is the furthest the expansion plan has progressed. A federally required environmental assessment began last year and a draft is expected to be completed by January.
The revised letter of intent will go back to the forest district planning committee for review and must be approved by the full board. The forest district would have 150 days to review the environmental impact study once available and negotiate an agreement with the port district.
As discussed, the forest district would receive the appraised value of its property and require the port district to build a trail, including a tunnel beneath Yorkhouse Road through Waukegan Savanna to Delaney Road, according to Ty Kovach, the forest district's executive director.