As McGhee Tyson Airport officials race to stay ahead of growing parking demand, the Alcoa Planning Commissioner deferred voting on a temporary expansion to help the airport buy time while constructing a parking garage Thursday, March 21. Plans for the airport’s parking Lot C, commissioners said, need more information before they can be approved.
The commission pointed to discrepancies in the number of parking spaces to be added to the lot and a need for more clarity around access points. Developers will still be allowed to make preliminary preparations before bringing updated plans to the board.
Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority Board members approved a $4.65 million contract with Messer Construction for expansion to the parking lot the day before Alcoa’s meeting, citing the need to meet temporary demand. The airport has already begun construction on a 6-floor, 3,500-space parking garage beside its current garage, but that construction means closing over 650 of the existing parking spaces next to the terminal building.
And demand for parking continues to grow.
To make up for the loss and accommodate rising numbers, MKAA Board President Patrick Wilson said the airport has to expand its existing temporary parking. Airport staff have previously said the facility served 2.8 million passengers in 2023 — 300,000 more than the airport is rated to handle.
Expanding Lot C would allow an additional 500 spaces according to Bryan White, vice president of planning and development for the airport, but that won’t be enough to meet demand. The airport is looking for alternative locations for parking, such as converting staff parking into public parking during the busy season.
“We’re looking at one, if not several remote parking lots to be considered for the airport authority to use,” said White during the board meeting. “We’re considering locations that are already developed enough to support parking activity and would require small improvements such as adding grading, lighting and shuttle shelters.”
Wilson said the airport has spent about $8.5 million on expanding its parking capacity by 30% in the last three years. He also said the airport plans to open the spaces closed for garage construction during the peak parking months of June and July before going back to work in August.
On Thursday, Alcoa City Planner Jeremy Pearson pointed out plans for expanding Lot C contain differing estimates for the number of spaces to be added. Plans note 470 spaces in the expansion, while staff counted 551.
“I kind of don’t have a handle on what we’re looking at, at this point,” Pearson said.
A possible entrance off Flagship Drive was also up for discussion. The airport plans to run a shuttle service to the expanded lot, but Chris Soro of C2RL Engineers, Inc. told commissioners Thursday that there should also be an entrance from the outside.
The commission deferred voting on the plans until next month to allow developers time to clarify their designs. Soro said the company had a construction conference scheduled for the following day to discuss grading for the land.
Most Popular
Comments / 0