When Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport was built in 1942, it was in the “middle of nowhere.” Over the years, developments and cities sprouted up all around it. Now the airport is updating its land-use plan, hoping to address some of the major concerns of nearby neighborhoods, per the East Valley Tribune.

Current and future developments such as Eastmark of Mesa and Power Ranch of Gilbert are forcing the airport to balance concerns of the community with its own needs for future development. That’s not easy to do when the residential population increased 150 percent between 2000 to 2010 and see another 50,000 residents added between 2015 and 2017. However, airport planners, in cooperation with stakeholders in Mesa, Gilbert, and Queen Creek and unincorporated areas in Maricopa and Pinal counties, have succeeded in past years to balance the potential of the airport with the growth of those regions. 

While looking at overflight areas, weather patterns, and noise complaints, several areas have been affected more than others because of what the airport calls the “northwest flow,” when airplanes ascend over Queen Creek and depart over Gilbert and Mesa. This is prompting a look at boundary extensions as well as spreading out flights during peak times during the day.

On the flip side, the airport has also concluded they can handle around twice as many flights as it does now based on current infrastructure. With the anticipated growth of an expected flights increase, updating the land-use plan and working closely with surrounding neighborhoods and cities is more important than ever.