Piñon Aero plans based on market

Piñon Aero Center's business plan accomodates growth of the market which may not draw Silicon Valley business jets, said Anders O. Field Jr., a spokesman for the developer.

"Our interest is in responding to the local market and we will do that," Field said. "Providing hangars for Silicon Valley companies is not the primary thrust for development of Piñon Aero."

The complex, which will include about 100 high-end hangars on 87.5 acres, should be completed in five to seven years.

"We have no interest in creating a mammoth jet center and we aren't interested in promoting one group of aviators over another," Field said. "Part of our philosophy of being a good neighbor in Carson Valley is supporting, maintaining and servicing the local market. We will provide hangars to those who fly airplanes without prejudice."

Minden-Tahoe Airport serves a large flying community with diverse interests, but with the right attitude those people can be brought together for realistic development of the airport, Field said.

"If people want a jet center, they should go to the Carson City Airport," he said. "A very modern, high-tech jet center is being built there."

Jennifer Ware, spokeswoman for Carson Valley Vanguard Coalition, said that philosophy does not lock the door against construction of a jet port at Minden-Tahoe.

"Piñon Aero developers may be sensitive to public pressure, but just because you don't expect to be robbed doesn't mean you don't lock the door," she said.

The Vanguard Coalition is not against the few jets serving Douglas County, but they are against bringing in Silicon Valley jets and the environmental negatives that will follow, Ware said.

"Piñon Aero's stance is a compromise and it is rational," she said. "But we want to keep the airport's historical character, small aircraft and soaring."

Piñon Aero's first phase should be completed this summer and includes 33,274-square-feet of commercial space and seven hangars that can be improved to include office space.

The proposal has come under fire from residents and more recently, from consultant Perry Van Pelt, an associate of airport master plan consultants Bernard and Dunkelberg, who said the market does not exist for a development of this scale.

"We don't see the same market drivers that the backers of Piñon Aero see and we're hesitant to have a discussion concerning their plans," Van Pelt told the Douglas County Board of Commissioners last week. "I'm in my 28th year in this business and I don't see it. You're going down the rabbit hole."

Despite that assessment, Commissioner David Brady said he would like to see a contingency plan for the increased traffic the center might generate.

"We have to live in the here and now," Brady said. "Piñon Aero has done their homework and we see them putting a lot of money in the ground."

"We don't recommend going down that path," Van Pelt said. "Those are additional work elements that would have to be considered.. . I don't believe it's in your best interest to reforecast based on something that may or may not happen."

"I remember when they said Las Vegas couldn't handle another casino, too," said Commissioner Doug Johnson. "This puts us in a tough spot. What if we are planning for two lanes and NDOT brings in eight lanes."

Everyone has opinions and it's totally fair to express those, but some things said by residents at Thursday's meeting of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners were flatly wrong, Field said.

For example, Piñon Aero allowed the county to access their property for two wells. The road was not built to accomodate Piñon Aero, as one resident said. A new vacuum sewer system that will ultimately accomodate development on the east side of the airport, as well as the paving of a section of Heybourne Road, will be completed at the developers' expense, he said.

"We will be incorporating 16 T hangars into our next phase to respond to local requirements," Field said.

Donna Levecque of the Vanguard Coalition said Piñon Aero has spent a lot of money and will be looking for returns, but they can't segment the project to get around a proper environmental study.

"The overall site plan must be comprehended, including a worst case scenario," she said.

• Susie Vasquez can be reached at svasquez@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 211.