Utah airport back in business
Town denial of license renewal reversed on appeal
Airport advocates celebrated a March 5 ruling siding with the local airport's appeal of the town government's refusal to renew the airport business license.
West Desert Airpark has been under development pressure—apparently driven at least in part by a desire to expand nearby revenue-generating landfills—for some time. In December the town of Fairfield, Utah, notified the local airport owners that their business license would not be renewed. The airport hosts a flight school, the only light aircraft manufacturer in the state, and an AOPA network flying club. AOPA Northwest Mountain Regional Manager Brad Schuster quickly got involved, asking the town to reconsider its decision and questioning the basis of its application of land use standards.
"Town has the burden to prove by a preponderance of evidence that its denial of Airpark's business license was lawful," Stevenson wrote, finding "that the town has failed to do so. Accordingly, Hearing Officer finds that Town lacked legal justification to deny Airpark's business license, and the denial of said license is reversed."
The decision was attached to a press release issued by the airport's owners to local media, which had picked up the story of the airport's battle to survive.
"While the West Desert Airpark business license renewal is something to be celebrated, I have advised the airport owners to continue to be vigilant for other threats from the city opposing the airport or airport operations over time, as Fairfield has developed a well-established pattern of animus against the airport," Schuster said. "Airport stakeholders—whose financial and other support has been as immensely helpful as it has been vital—should continue to help the owners evolve their strategy to continue to protect their special airport long into the future.”
The airport's owners vowed to work collaboratively:
"While the legal process has clarified the issues surrounding the business license, the focus of West Desert Airpark is now firmly on the future," the owners wrote. "We want UT9 to be a place where pilots gather, students learn, families visit, and aviation thrives in a safe and responsible environment."
The owners emphasized collaboration with the broader aviation community "will play a central role in the airport's next chapter.
