By MARK MCGEE
Middle Tennessee State University’s aeronautics program has decided it needs even more land at the Shelbyville Municipal Airport.
The school has requested to exercise an option for an additional 4.8 acres to be added to the original approximate 16 acres.
The Shelbyville Municipal Airport Authority has approved the request. The Shelbyville City Council will vote Thursday night to officially approve the change in the lease.
“We did some adjustment to the size when they first talked about the lease,” Perry said. “At the time you might recall there was some discussion about the size of the land they would need.
“They needed some design work to be done. But before the design work could be completed MTSU needed the land. The plat is now an elongated shape. I am sure there will still be some final adjustments.”
Perry said the first payment on the additional property would be separate but when the agreement is approved both leases will be combined into one payment of $397,000. In March the 4.8 acres lease will be for approximately $90,000.
City Attorney Ginger Shofner has been finalizing the legal aspects of the change.
“All of that is done,” Shofner said. “It was an L-shape originally. But MTSU wanted to change it and go back deeper on the property. This will give the City more land along Highway 231.”
Perry said the amendment is a great compromise for both sides.
“As far as a master plan we are working on our version,” Perry said. “We have been approached about the land on the back portion of the property. The back portion is beachfront property.”
The land now open along Highway 231 could be used for retail and restaurant space once the MTSU facility is completely functional.
The project won’t be completed until 2027, but MTSU is already using the airport for the training of pilots.
“MTSU has started operations,” Perry said. “They have 12-to-15 airplanes with 85 students scheduled. They have instructors and ground crews coming to the airport daily.
“They have their own parking area. They have their own security with a separate entrance. So far, it seems to be working well. We haven’t had any concerns from the private pilots.”
MTSU is able to keep its planes separate from local traffic.
“It is nice to have a little bit of time to integrate,” Perry said. “When they get here in 2027 they will have 85 airplanes. This gives us time to work through all of the logistics.”
