Valley aviation hubs eyeing proposed Peoria airport
Airports refrain from detailed comment, but Phoenix has ‘initial concerns’
City of Goodyear
This is a photo of the Phoenix Goodyear Airport. City of Phoenix officials say an airport proposed for the city of Peoria could affect other local airports like this one or Deer Valley Airport in north Phoenix.
Officials with some Valley airports have been in talks with the city of Peoria about its proposed airport, but are stopping short of taking a stance on it.
That said, Phoenix Aviation Department — which owns and operates Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, and Phoenix Goodyear Airport — has told Peoria Independent they do have “initial concerns” about a new airport in Peoria.
Deputy Aviation Director Heather Shelbrack said it is too early to have an official position on the Peoria proposal as it is only in the feasibility study phase.
However, the Phoenix Aviation Department is engaging with Peoria and will be an “interested and active stakeholder.”
“The department does have initial concerns about expected challenges that a proposed airport could create if not properly considered and addressed,” Shelbrack said. “It’s important to note that the city of Phoenix Aviation Department has significantly invested in the Phoenix system of airports, as well as has been a strong supporter of Luke Air Force Base. These airports provide significant economic benefits to the state. It’s important that we ensure that any development does not impair the operation, safety, capacity, or efficiency of these vital assets.”
Mayor Jason Beck in 2022 ran on a campaign platform of bringing an airport to north Peoria as an economic engine and revenue generator modeled after Scottsdale Airpark. It would not provide commercial airline service, but serve as a general aviation reliever facility limited to light and midsize business jets and other aircraft.
A potential site would be in the area of Lake Pleasant Parkway and State Route 74.
A general aviation reliever facility is an airport designated to relieve congestion at a commercial service airport and to provide more general aviation access to the overall community, according to the FAA.
In a letter dated Nov. 30, 2023, sent to the city of Peoria, Phoenix Aviation Director Chad R. Makovsky detailed concerns about the proposed airport in Peoria. Some concerns included airspace congestion and uses, proximity to other airports and runway considerations.
Makovsky stated the comprehensive feasibility study Peoria is conducting will bring these and many other issues to light, and “it is critical these issues are carefully considered and addressed before we could formally express our position about an initiative like this.”
He added the Phoenix Deer Valley Airport is the closest National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems general aviation reliever airport to Peoria, and could be negatively impacted by a proposed airport development.
“With that in mind, I am requesting the opportunity to have city of Phoenix Aviation subject matter experts participate as stakeholders in the feasibility study to ensure the interests, complexities, and concerns of the local aviation community are fully considered. Providing our team the opportunity to assist in the identification of issues early in the process will allow Peoria to better manage risk and reduce unnecessary public expenditures associated with pursuing options that may not be viable or compatible with existing aviation uses,” he stated in the letter.
Officials with Luke Air Force Base declined to provide a detailed response to the proposed airport in Peoria.
At this time, it is still early in the preliminary planning for the project, so potential impacts to Luke flying operations are still being evaluated, according to a statement.
“Luke Air Force Base has had direct conversations with the city of Peoria on their desire to explore airport operations and we will continue to work closely with the city as more definitive plans are developed,” the statement continued. “We remain committed to working hand in hand with our local communities, as we always have, to ensure protection of our mission while supporting municipal growth in the West Valley.”
Since Beck was sworn in, he and the city have worked aggressively to bring an airport into the city.
Although it is still in the early phases, Peoria has commissioned a feasibility study that began in July 2023 and could take until July to complete, according to the city website. The study will provide expert recommendations regarding possible locations, market analysis, assets and constraints, based aircraft fleet mix, annual operations, flight path(s), airfield requirements, airport design, prototype airport layout, and other details.
Other needed studies and reports include an economic impact study and economic modeling tool, a site selection study, a master plan and an environmental assessment. These and the continuation of the feasibility study are budgeted for $500,000 in the city’s fiscal year 2025 proposed budget.
The city would also need a study conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration.
In a statement to Peoria Independent, FAA said anyone who plans to build an airport must notify the FAA.
“The FAA will conduct a feasibility study to examine the project’s airspace, financial, ground-transportation and construction-engineering feasibility, as well as its environmental impact. Zoning, permitting and other land use matters fall under the jurisdiction of local, county and state governments.”
The effort for a new airport in Peoria mirrors one the city undertook in the late 1990s to put an airport in the same area, which officials ultimately abandoned in part because of the crowded airspace and potential impacts to Luke.
Philip Haldiman can be reached at phaldiman@iniusa.org, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman. We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Philip Haldiman is an award-winning journalist who most recently took first place for investigative reporting in 2023 from Arizona Newspapers Association. He joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2015, covering Sun City West his first year. Since 2016, he has covered the city of Peoria. Prior to coming to INI, he was a reporter with The Arizona Republic for seven years, covering numerous cities throughout the Valley. Before that, he was a freelance writer.
Community: Haldiman spearheads the Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes Awards program, honoring local individuals and businesses that give back to the community. He has hosted local candidate forums over the years and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Haldiman also served as a member of the Journalism Program Community Advisory Board at Glendale Community College. Outside journalism, Haldiman served as a member of the city of Peoria Complete Count Committee for the Census, 2019-2020. Lastly, he has served as a member of his HOA governing board since 2021.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications and a BA in Theater.
Random Fact: Haldiman is a fourth-generation Arizonan as well as wrote and produced an autobiographical comic book about his time spent in Hollywood and his life as a cult film star.
Hobbies: He enjoys hiking Arizona’s mountainous landscapes and is currently working on a play for the stage.
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