For the week of February 19 - 25, 2003

Sun Valley Aviation to build new terminal

---

By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Sun Valley Aviation, the Hailey-based aircraft rental, sales and service business, plans to move its base of operations to a new facility on the west side of Friedman Memorial Airport.

The business is currently based on the east side of the airport adjacent to Highway 75.

Hailey Planning and Zoning commissioners Wednesday unanimously approved a proposal by the company to construct along Aviation Drive a new airplane storage hangar, maintenance hangar, terminal facility and maintenance shed.

The total square footage of all of the new buildings will be more than 52,000 square feet.

Wayne Warner, president of Sun Valley Aviation, said he believes the new facility will reduce the operation’s impact on citizens residing near the airport.

"We’re really excited to get out of this old site that has had lots of complaints, and rightfully so," he said. "This is really a win-win for the entire community."

The approved plan calls for construction of:

• An approximately 34-foot-tall, 10,000-square-foot maintenance hangar at 2220 Aviation Dr.
• A 26-foot-high, 9,400-sqaure-foot terminal facility at 2230 Aviation Dr.
• A 45-foot-high, 26,000-square-foot storage hangar at 2240 Aviation Dr.

The plan also calls for 72 parking spaces and landscaping to be installed at the facility.

Barry Luboviski, an attorney representing the Friedman Memorial Airport Authority, said airport representatives support the plan. He noted that the buildings that currently house Sun Valley Aviation will be removed "as soon as this is built."

Project representatives said the new facilities would take approximately two years to build and make operational.

The new facility is expected to relieve some negative impacts the business has had on residents of Woodside subdivision. However, it will be approximately 600 feet from some residences in the Broadford Highlands development.

Rick Baird, airport manager, told commissioners that rules governing the duration of how long airplane "auxiliary power units" can idle on the Friedman runway were tightened last year.

Commissioners placed several conditions on the plan to ensure that impacts on neighboring properties are kept to a minimum, including one which states that all exterior lighting must comply with Hailey’s Outdoor Lighting Ordinance.

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.