R.A. Wiedemann & Associates, Inc. was selected to lead an Airport Business Planning project for the City of Lee’s Summit, MO. An airport master plan was developed in 1997 that recommended a significant expansion of the Airport over its current size.
Land acquisition was performed to prepare for runway expansion from 4,000 feet in length to 5,500 feet. However, at some point in the process, the City Council became divided over the value of expanding the Airport.
The Airport Business Plan was developed to help the City examine the financial viability of either implementing the expansion or leaving the Airport as is.
The Business Plan did show the feasibility of performing the expansion, but in a different order from that shown in the airport master plan. Strategies for maximizing revenues were developed which would save over $500,000 in the near term.
In addition to the Airport Business Plan, the City Council requested an analysis of the airport’s community value. That is, an analysis was requested that showed the economic contribution of the Airport in contrast to the possible conversion of Airport property to industrial uses. R.A. Wiedemann & Associates documented an annual economic impact of over $10 million in addition to an Airport asset value of $40 million.