A consultant told Wichita City Council members Tuesday that there is an opportunity to market land at Jabara Airport to manufacturing facilities.

Patrick Taylor with the Overland Park firm of Coffman Associates presented a master plan update for the airport to council members during a workshop discussion.  The plan is required by the Federal Aviation Administration in order to be eligible for federal grants on future projects.    Taylor said Jabara has the 6th highest total economic impact of 73 general aviation airports in Kansas, and it accounts for more than 9 percent of the jobs created by these airports.    He said Jabara is a real economic engine and it is a valuable asset for the Wichita region.

The Airport Layout Plan and report for Jabara calls for zoning changes along with the closure of 43rd Street North east of Webb Road to protect runways, and it calls for the city to acquire another 60 acres of property on the east side of the airport for future development.   The plan also outlines a list of short-term and long-term projects for the airport over the next 20 years.    Wichita officials will work with the City of Bel Aire on zoning issues to protect the airspace over Jabara Airport.

Taylor said Jabara Airport has large tracts of undeveloped land, which many urban airports don’t have, so there is a real opportunity to market the airport to larger manufacturing facilities for aerospace or non-aerospace uses.    He said that would generate revenue for the airport in the form of land leases.

Wichita City Manager Robert Layton the plan provides a better idea of the development potential at Jabara Airport, and he said staff will work to submit the plan to the FAA and begin working on ideas for future development of the area.