Nut Tree Airport, Solano County

Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Sale of land would boost airport funds
By Jason Massad
The Vacaville (CA) Reporter

Solano County officials will consider selling about 2 acres of property and an easement near the Nut Tree Airport to the city of Vacaville for road widening along East Monte Vista Avenue when they meet Tuesday. The agreement, months in the making, would have the city pay $351,000 for the property, the easement and a temporary staging area for construction on East Monte Vista Avenue.

The city has been seeking the property and the easement as part of planned redevelopment around the old Nut Tree property. Road widening on East Monte Vista Avenue and a new overpass at Interstate 80 are part of those plans.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees the Nut Tree Airport, would have to approve the agreement, according to a county report.

And if the Solano County Board of Supervisors agrees to the recommendation Tuesday to sell the property, a public hearing would be held Dec. 14 on the matter.

“Approval of the proposed sale is recommended when staff receives approval from the FAA,” the report says.

If the sale is completed, the county would receive a much-needed boost to its funds to improve the airport.

The county recently abandoned a state loan to build new hangars at the airport because of delays that sent the price of construction higher than anticipated. A big-ticket airport improvement also stood in the way.

That item is a larger waterline to serve the airport. Retired Fire Chief Frank Moore had said that no new construction could occur at the airport until a new waterline was constructed.

The improvement is estimated to cost more than $400,000. Meanwhile, pilots who would like to base their aircraft at the Nut Tree have been waiting for new hangars to be built.

Solano County officials recently named a new airport manager to oversee operations there. Andy Swanson, former San Mateo airport manager, is scheduled to begin work today.