This blog was written on 11/19/2025.

This blog is in reference to Agenda Item 2023-1331: Request for Proposal No. 22-500625 Eastside Aviation Development on DeKalb Peachtree Airport (Multi-Year Lease): for use by the DeKalb Peachtree (PDK) Airport. Consists of the design, construction, and management of business directly related to aviation for corporate aviation hangar development on the eastside of the airfield at the PDK Airport. Recommend award to the sole proposer: Sky Harbour, LLC. Estimated 50-Year Total Revenue Amount: $576,607,163.00 ($211,270,337.00 estimated towards DeKalb County).

  • This item has been in discussion for almost two years.
  • The Board of Commissioners voted to approve on 11/18/2025.

Commissioner Terry was the first to motion for a deferral to the last meeting of the year for additional public comment. Additionally, he has routinely advocated for a complete noise and environmental study before action on the item.

  • The noise and environmental study looks at the total impacts of fulfilling the entire PDK master plan.
  • The portion of the study for Sky Harbour is complete and was presented in the the OPS Committee on 10/21. You can watch this by clicking here. The presentation begins around 11:00.
  • During Commissioner Terry’s questioning, it was revealed the study had been complete but is awaiting comments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) which will not be finalized until the COO and Airport Director’s estimated June 2026.

Throughout discussion, it became apparent other Commissioners were prepared to move forward as only Commissioner Long Spears and Commissioner Bolton voted to approve Commissioner Terry’s motion to defer. Commissioner Terry ensured if this item moved forward additional conditions and community benefits were included. He will remain diligent in ensuring these community benefits are realized. These include:

  • Compliance by requiring a report every quarter with the previously stated aspirations of reducing repositioning flights by 50% which will reduce noise and / or pollution associated with flying as stated in the noise and environmental study for Sky Harbour.
    • Repositioning flights are non revenue flights, often flown for the sake of moving a plane elsewhere either for maintenance or to return it to another location.
  • Creating a $1 million annual environmental, health and noise impact fund to be invested back in the effected community by all of the issues surrounding the airport as it relates to noise and pollution.

Additionally, Commissioner Terry will continue to support and plan to introduce:

  • A moratorium on any more hangars until such time that an update of the PDK masterplan can be conducted, with the goal of creating more aviation adjacent, but non flight related priorities in the future development patterns of the airport
  • A resolution lobbying the FAA to ban night flights except for emergencies

Commissioner Terry is coordinating with District 2 Commissioner Long Spears on a Town Hall to ensure communication with the community and ensure staying focused on the call to action of investing in noise mitigation for impacted neighborhoods. More details to come.