Commission tackles issues to pave way for Kestrel Aircraft

Superior’s Plan Commission is taking some of the first steps to make 600 jobs a new reality in Superior.

While construction of an assembly plant for Kestrel Aircraft Company’s K-350 airplanes is still more than a year from construction, the commission approved a variety of measures to make sure the project goes smoothly when it gets underway next year.

The commission approved a zoning change, street vacation that will provide direct access to the airport from the assembly plant, and a certified survey map for the site.

“There’s some city property in there as well as some Douglas County property,” said Port and Planning Director Jason Serck. He said the certified survey map essentially cleans up the property, making it easier to transfer the property.

Those parcel lines among city and county properties were eliminated by creating the certified survey map, said Bill Anderson of Cornerstone Survey and Mapping Inc., which did the work to redefine the property lines.

The certified survey map includes portions of North 46th Street and Hammond Avenue slated for closure to give the airplane manufacturer access to the airport.

Anderson said North 46th Street will remain open to allow access to the parking area by the Upper Deck Restaurant from Tower Avenue.

Essentially, slated for closure is the curved portion of the road from the hanger area of the airport to the Upper Deck.

However, Serck said, even when the closure is approved, expected to come before the council in April, the road would remain open until the city transfers land to Kestrel, expected in March 2013, for construction of the assembly plant.

“We won’t be closing it immediately,” Serck said. “We will be looking at alternatives to constructing another road to Tower Avenue to connect the airport.”

Currently, access to the airport would be at North 54th Street on Tower Avenue to get to the airport once the road closes.

Serck said the city is working with county officials to identify a location for a new road to Hammond Avenue, likely in the area of the fairgrounds.

The goal behind addressing the issue now is to make sure it isn’t overlooked when it becomes necessary to close the road, the planning director said.

Vacating the street and changing the zoning from suburban to light manufacturing are subject to public hearings before the Superior City Council considers the changes. Those hearings are expected in April, Serck said.

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