LOGAN — The Logan airport is completing a yearlong expansion this month with the hopes of attracting commercial air service to Cache Valley. But expansion plans have one local business upset.
Logan has been without commercial air service since 1989, when Horizon Air left town.
"Since then, we've been doing what we needed to do to upgrade the airport," said Logan-Cache Airport spokeswoman Sarah Ann Skanchy.
Last year the airport received a $4 million federal grant to lengthen the main runway from 5,600 to 9,100 feet. A second grant was to strengthen the runway surface, which would allow commercial jets to land in Logan.
One year and $5 million later, the airport is putting the finishing touches on its new runway to be completed later this month. It's the second-longest runway in the state with the ability to land jets as big as a Boeing 727.
But who will fly into Logan? Although the airport hasn't begun petitioning airlines, regional carrier SkyWest Airlines is already saying no.
"(It) will probably never happen," said SkyWest spokesman, Phil Gee. "Our main focus is to connect with service to our main carriers, Delta and United. The only feasible way to do that is to connect with service to Salt Lake," but it's almost faster to drive the short distance, Gee said.
As part of the airport expansion process, Cache County has proposed the implementation of an airport overlay zone, a 1 1/2-mile radius around the airport's new north-south runway. The zone would restrict current and future structures from being taller than 150 feet. The ordinance needs to be passed individually by the incorporated cities of Logan, North Logan, Hyde Park and Smithfield, cities with land in the zone.
"I've received a lot of pressure from the county to get this passed," said North Logan Mayor Val Potter during Thursday's City Council meeting where the zoning ordinance was discussed.
But such a restriction has one Cache Valley business upset.
S&S Power Sports in North Logan has constructed a 180-foot tower that lies in the proposed airport overlay zone. The world leader in vertical roller coaster manufacture, S&S uses the tower to test thrill ride prototypes. If the airport zoning ordinance is passed, S&S will be forced to tear down the tower.
The council was restricted from voting on the ordinance Thursday but opted to send S&S a letter advising it of the proposed ordinance. The council is scheduled to vote on the issue Sept. 19.
E-mail: loganreporter@attbi.com