Kent State University initiated an airport master plan process in 2001. The purpose of the airport master plan is to provide the area communities and Kent State University achievable goals and guidelines for future airport development that would meet aviation demand, community acceptance, environmental compatibility and coordinate with other modes of local, state and national transportation. The university elected to prepare a master plan as an update to the 1974 Master Plan and the Airport Layout Plan of 1984.

The Stow Airport was constructed in 1920 in a rural section of the community. The communities of Kent, Stow and Munroe Falls have experienced enormous growth over the last few decades. The City of Stow’s population in 1990 was 27,702; today the population is 32,139 – one of the fastest growing communities in Ohio. The ensuing residential and commercial developments have now surrounded the airport effectively eliminating the possibility to implement a crosswind runway as depicted in the 1984 Airport Layout Plan.

The master plan will define the type and extent of development activities the would be necessary for the airport to meet community’s current and projected aviation demand including the university flight training program. The planning horizon is to 2023. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prescribes goals and objectives of a master plan. They are:

The goal of a master plan is to provide guidelines for future airport development, which will satisfy aviation demand in a financially feasible manner, while at the same time resolving the aviation, environmental and socioeconomic issues existing in the community. Specific objectives are:

a. To provide an effective graphic presentation of the future development of the airport and anticipated land uses in the vicinity of the airport.

b. To establish a realistic schedule for implementation of the development proposed in the plan, particularly for the short-term capital improvement program.

c. To purpose an achievable financial plan to support the implementation schedule.

d. To justify the plan technically and procedurally through a thorough investigation of concepts and alternatives on technical, economic and environmental grounds.

e. To present for public consideration, in a convincing and candid manner, a plan which adequately addresses the issues and satisfies local, state and federal regulations.

f. To document policies and future aeronautical demands for reference in municipal deliberations on spending and debt incurrence and land use controls; e.g., subdivision regulations and the erection of potential obstructions to air navigation.

g. To set the stage and establish the framework for a continuing planning process. Such a process should monitor key conditions and adjust plan recommendations if required by changed circumstances.

The FAA defines a master plan as:

The airport master plan is the planner’s concept of the long-term development of an airport. It displays the concept graphically and reports the data and logic upon which the plan is based. Master plans are prepared to support modernization of existing airports and creation of new airports, regardless of size, complexity, or role.

You may wish to reference the FAA document AC150/5070-6A – Airport Master Plans. This document fully describes the master plan process. 

The master plan is being developed by Richland Engineering Limited; the firm specializes in general aviation airport development and in particular, development of airport master plans.

A very important component of the master plan is seeking input from the public. This website’s purpose is to provide information to the public and seek input. As each work element of the master plan is completed (in draft form), we will post the information for review and comments.

You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the chapters. You can download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat by clicking here.

Entire report with revisions and new chapters added as of January 5, 2007.

Click on chapter name to access file, or right click on chapter name and/or sections and "Save Target As" to download onto your computer.

Please email comments, suggestions, questions, etc., to Thomas Clapper.

For more information about the Federal Aviation Administration website on 150/5070-6A Airport Master Plans - click here.