MONROE — Daryl Habich envisions big things for his small airport.
He dreams of building a restaurant, a flight instruction school and even a hotel.
“The goal is to make it economically viable,” Habich said.
In essence, he wants more people to use his 35-acre airport near the Ev
ergreen State Fairgrounds.
The first step for his five-year plan is extending the runway by 600 feet to 3,200 feet from 2,600 feet. He also wants to widen it to 50 feet from 32 feet.
By extending it, the runway would become safer and more comfortable for the flights Habich wants to attract to his airport called First Air Field, in particular charter and business flights that have at most 10 passengers.
“It will be biggest increase in 30 years,” he said.
In order to do this, he needs the city to approve a land-use change for the 27 acres surrounding the airport.
The zoning needs to be changed to allow airport uses before any development can happened. So, Habich, alongside Snohomish-based commercial developer CE3 Services LLC, has applied to the city for the land-use change.
It could take at least a year to have it approved and get all the studies and permits needed to start development. After getting approvals, Habich plans to buy the city-owned parcel west of the airport to extend the runway. His proposal has to be reviewed by the city’s planning commission and then by the City Council.
Monroe would get many benefits by letting the airport grow. It would attract more business to the area, generating more tax revenue and creating more jobs, said Daniel Reina, principal of CE3 Services LLC.
The increase would also allow the airport to house more planes, hangars and provide more services.
Currently, the airport offers maintenance services and has about 100 privately owned airplanes and 62 hangars.
Habich has owned First Air since 1977, about 10 years after it was built. It is currently being used for private flights. It is open for flight instruction but currently it has no fixed base operator.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
