Chair defends Perkins Ranch decision, cites possible $15 million runway benefits

Chair Merritt used the commission-members’ remarks portion of the April 7 meeting to defend a prior commission recommendation on the Perkins Ranch conditional-use permit and to push back at public opposition.

Merritt said opponents have circulated inaccurate information and targeted the Perkins family with harassment, including driving by and honking. He argued the commission acted on facts and said the Perkins Ranch project could bring financial benefits to the town during construction and later phases. Merritt stated an estimated $15 million in construction would generate approximately $900,000 to $1 million in transaction privilege tax (TPT) revenue for the town from construction-related sales, and he described potential future tax revenues from fuel sales and other aviation-related development.

He urged residents to consult town-provided materials for accurate information on distances and flight patterns, and said that surrounding properties most affected are more than a mile and a half from the flight pattern and are not in the town limits. Merritt said public debate may lead to a referendum but encouraged residents to rely on posted facts and handouts available from the town.

The remarks combined economic rationale for the project with a rebuke of opponents’ tactics; no formal decision was taken in this segment, and the chair invited any responses to be made at the next zoning meeting.