Airport Master Plan

Latest Updates  (02/21/20)

Master Plan Project Update:  Since August, Mead & Hunt staff have been working to address comments provided by the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the draft Aviation Forecasts component of the master plan. They will soon submit their work to the FAA for re-review, with the hope that the FAA review will be completed in early spring. At this time, Mead & Hunt anticipates that the City will be able to resume scheduling Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee meetings, with the next possibly held prior to Memorial Day. That meeting will focus on reviewing the revisions to the previously prepared draft chapters.

Once the FAA agrees with the forecasts, the firm will update the Facility Requirements chapter before proceeding with the Alternatives Analysis phase of the master plan. The project scope calls for analyzing the merits and deficiencies of potentially lengthening the east-west runway, upgrading the cross-wind runway, and developing additional space for hangars. This work will include reviewing land use plans and undertaking a noise analysis. A financial plan (including development of cost estimates) won’t be undertaken until after the alternatives analysis phase.

Cost Estimates:   City officials and master plan project staff learned in October 2019 that the FAA has assigned a $12.4 million cost estimate for potential projects at the Middleton airport.  This number, which is listed in the FAA’s 2019-2023 National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems Report (Appendix A, page 110), appears to be a planning-level budget and is not a commitment of federal, state, or local funding for any potential development. To date, no cost estimates have been developed as part of the airport master planning process.

Future AMPAC meetings:  The next Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee meeting will be scheduled when revisions to the aviation forecasts and facility requirements chapters are available. After that, project staff anticipate that there will be at least two additional AMPAC meetings to further guide the planning process.

Community Survey and Public Input:  Once a draft plan is available, the City of Middleton will collaborate with the Towns of Middleton and Springfield to prepare a community survey regarding the airport and its future. The City remains fully committed to providing public input opportunities before the Common Council is asked to adopt the master plan.

To comment on or ask a question about the master plan project, use this link  OR   send an email to the City’s project contact.

To receive future meeting notices and project updates, subscribe to Airport Master Plan using the City’s "Notify Me" service.  To see past and current meeting materials, scroll down this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Master Plan documents

Resources related to airport master plans

Previous City actions related to airport planning

  • Resolution 1998-20: Intent for Morey Airport Property. This resolution expressed the City’s position when it deliberated purchasing the airport from the Morey family.
  • Referendum Regarding Airport Expansion. On April 6, 1999, City of Middleton residents defeated a charter ordinance that would have prohibited expansion of the airport. The phrasing of the question was provided by the organizers of the referendum--not by the City. The vote was 1,281 in favor of prohibition, with 2,326 in opposition. This outcome enabled the City to proceed with making improvements to the airport it had just purchased.
  • Resolution 2014-65: Petitioning the Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation for Airport Improvement Aid. This is the most recent "petition" adopted by the City so that it is eligible for potential Federal and/or State funding assistance. The Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics requires the City to adopt such a petition from time to time to maintain a list of eligible projects. Adoption of the petition does not obligate the City to proceed with any of the listed projects nor commit the State or FAA to fund those items. This resolution also is not a decision to proceed with any of the listed projects.
  • Resolution 2019-31: Airport Master Planning Process:  Adopted 8/6/19, this resolution establishes parameters for drafting the airport master plan.

Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee (AMPAC)

The Airport Master Plan Advisory Committee is an advisory body to the Airport Commission and Middleton Common Council that was formed in early 2019 to oversee development of an updated master plan for the airport. 

AMPAC (and related airport) Meetings:  

Other City meeting agendas and minutes are available here. To access past meetings, select "Meetings" in the red band at the top (directly under the city logo), under Meeting Type select desired committee, and then select a Date Range.

AMPAC Membership and Project Staff: 

The advisory committee is staffed by City Planner Mark Opitz and Greg Stern, Mead & Hunt, a Middleton-based engineering consulting firm that was hired to prepare the plan. Appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the Common Council, the committee consists of the following 11 members (along with pertinent affiliations):  

  • Robert Bartholomew, City of Middleton resident who lives beneath a runway approach
  • Dan Dresen, Town of Springfield resident and Town Board member
  • Ray Fey, Airport Commission representative, pilot based at C29, City of Middleton resident
  • Mike Frank, Middleton Chamber of Commerce representative, City of Middleton resident
  • Jade Hofeldt, Capital Flight (business based at C29), Town of Vienna resident
  • Leif Hubbard, Plan Commission member, City of Middleton resident
  • Julie Loeffler, Town of Springfield resident
  • Richard Morey, Airport manager and owner of Morey Airplane Company (business based at C29), Waunakee resident
  • Kevin Munson, Pilot (not based at C29), City of Middleton resident
  • Deana Porter, representative of Middleton Area Development Corporation (owner of the terminal building), City of Madison resident
  • Cynthia Richson, Town of Middleton resident and Town Board Chairperson
  • Mark Warshauer, representative of Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, pilot based at C29, City of Middleton resident

Questions or comments can be addressed to Assistant Planning Director Mark Opitz 608.821.8394    mopitz@ci.middleton.wi.us    7426 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, WI  53562 

or posted online via this link.