Pierce County will hold a Master Plan Advisory Committee (MPAC) meeting for Pierce County Airport-Thun Field on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 to address the airport’s 20-year facility development needs.

The MPAC will meet from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Thun Field Airport Office in the Civil Air Patrol building, 16915 103rd Ave. E. in Puyallup.

The MPAC meeting is the third in a series that brings together representatives from the aviation and business communities, the local homeowners association, the sheriff’s department, West Pierce Fire & Rescue, Clover Park Technical College, Councilman Dan Roach and local and state governments. The MPAC will review the airport facility inventory and aviation forecasts that will be used to develop the new master plan. New facilities and improvements will be considered from both an aviation and community perspective.

The public is welcome to attend. Although a specific opportunity for public testimony will not be offered during the meeting, the county’s consultant will be available afterward to answer questions. Two dedicated meetings will be held during the alternatives development process to gain public input.

“This is an important meeting where we’ll begin to formulate a mission and vision for the airport,” said Lauren Behm, Planning and Public Works interim airport and ferry administrator. “We’ll also begin to consider potential alternatives for the future of this community asset.”

This is the first master plan update for the airport since 1999. The estimated cost for the master plan update is $453,000. A Federal Aviation Administration grant will fund $408,000, and a Washington State Department of Transportation grant will fund $22,500. Pierce County will match the state grant.

Visit www.piercecountywa.org/plumasterplan to view materials, provide input, sign up for updates, and learn about future open houses.

Mead & Hunt, Inc., an engineering firm with aviation expertise, is leading the update on Pierce County’s behalf.

– Pierce County