Committee backs limited 'partial paving' for hangar access; full paving deferred until AWOS site is set

Ocean Shores' airport advisory committee on May 19 agreed the city should delay broad paving decisions until a permanent AWOS location is finalized but supported targeted "partial paving" in front of hangars to improve aircraft ingress and egress.

During old-business discussion, members noted that previous minutes record an unresolved decision over AWOS location and that hangar placement depends on that siting. A committee member urged tabling full-paving planning until the AWOS site is decided but said partial paving that matches the paved lip in front of existing hangars would allow owners to get aircraft in and out.

One committee member explained funding options: “when I say the city is paying for it it's actually the Transportation Benefit District money that we would be using for that and it is an allowable source,” and said the committee is seeking updated cost estimates from city public works. Members discussed a practical depth — about 30 feet — needed to pull an airplane out safely and recommended making the paved areas uniform across hangar bays.

Committee direction: staff will get cost estimates and coordinate with public works on a narrowly scoped partial-paving project; the group agreed not to advance full paving plans until the AWOS siting process concludes.