The DeKalb County Board of Commissioners has approved a $45 million hangar development project at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) by Sky Harbour, a business aircraft operator. The decision was made on November 18 with a 6-1 vote and does not require any financial appropriation from the county.
According to DeKalb CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson, the project aims to address environmental and community concerns. “I am very sensitive to development at PDK and its impact on the environment and local residents but we will use this project to reduce the major concerns expressed by the local community,” said Cochran-Johnson. “I will be forming a community-based friends’ group to work alongside the airport and county to ensure PDK Airport is family friendly with great parks, dining, and engaging experiences that educate and entertain.”
Sky Harbour’s plan includes building eight hangars on 12.8 acres located on the east side of PDK Airport. Hunter Hines, PDK Airport Director, stated, “PDK is one of the nation’s top executive airports and businesses want to be located here. Through this development, we can ensure continuous economic growth, while also supporting the concerns of our local community. We can offer noise relief to residents in DeKalb County and provide much needed hangar space that will generate significant revenue to both the airport and the County.”
Over a 50-year lease term, officials estimate that the project will have a financial impact of $576 million. Of this amount, $66 million in direct ground lease revenue is projected for PDK itself. Tax revenues for DeKalb County, its school board, and the City of Chamblee are expected to increase by $510 million during the contract period.
DeKalb County schools enrolled 98,287 students in the 2022-23 school year; however, enrollment dropped by 2.2% compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students accounted for 14% of total enrollment during that time (https://www.gadoe.org/).
As part of Sky Harbour’s agreement with DeKalb County, $1 million per year will be allocated for reinvestment into local communities. A Friends of PDK group will also be established to advise on future airport projects and investments.
“To ensure we have open lines of communication with residents, we have created a full time position for a Community Relations Manager. We are dedicated to responsible growth and healthy communities, so I’m excited to work with the community to ensure we create optimal outcomes for all,” said Cochran-Johnson.
An Air Quality & Noise Study is currently underway at PDK Airport to assess environmental impacts related to operations; completion is expected by June 2026. The county states it remains committed to ongoing analysis for public and environmental safety.
