By Jimmy Van Wickler | West Valley View
Buckeye officials are advancing a series of coordinated planning efforts aimed at positioning Buckeye Municipal Airport as a long-term economic driver while identifying the infrastructure and land-use improvements needed to support future aviation growth.
City staff updated the Buckeye City Council during a July 7 workshop on four major initiatives that collectively will guide the airport’s future development, including long-range planning, utility infrastructure, land-use planning and business recruitment.
The studies include the Airport Long-Range Concept, Airport Strategic Implementation Plan, Airport Specific Area Plan and a marketing and lead generation strategy focused on attracting aviation-related businesses.
Economic Development Director Susie Boyles said the planning efforts are being coordinated across multiple city departments and consultants to ensure each project supports the others while engaging stakeholders throughout the process.
“I want to emphasize that the airport is an ongoing development and that what we’re sharing today is not the end of the story,” Boyles said. “Each of these plans is hitting a milestone, and we want to be able to share with the council what those milestones are.”
Consultant Ron Kresha of Golden Shovel presented preliminary findings from the city’s aviation market analysis, saying Buckeye is well positioned to capitalize on projected growth in general and corporate aviation.
