KENNEWICK-- Vista Field in Kennewick could be home to another 60 airplane hangars within the next 10 years.

That's one of the scenarios that could play out if Port of Kennewick commissioners approve a proposed update of the field's master plan at a meeting today.

The plan proposes spending about $600,000 on capital improvements at the airfield over the next five years, said the port's Executive Director Tim Arntzen.

He said that would be a 15 percent to 20 percent increase in capital improvement expenditures over the past five years.

Last March, commissioners voted to keep the airport in central Kennewick open after about two years of public discussion on the topic, Arntzen said.

For years, the long-term future of Vista Field remained uncertain because of zoning restrictions in the area, and the desire of many Kennewick leaders to shut down the airport and use the land for commercial, office and retail developments.

Larry Peterson, the port's director of planning and development, emphasized the proposed improvements would not expand the overall footprint of the airfield.

"We're not talking about extending the runway or extending the reach outside of what people view as Vista Field," he said.

The master plan does, however, propose extending taxiways and utilities to open up about 10 to 20 acres for aviation use that are vacant now but adjacent to the runway, Peterson said.

Arntzen said the port anticipates receiving a proposal to build 20 T-hangars within about eight months. T-hangars are small hangars for private planes.

Although that could generate a lot of construction, Arntzen anticipates new job creation would be minimal. That partly is because such hangars can be built within about 60 days.

On the other hand, as he expects the new hangars would serve private recreational pilots, such construction could provide work for existing aviation-related businesses at Vista Field, such as for mechanics and those who sell fuel.

Arntzen also said the proposed master plan improvements could clear the way for construction of larger, corporate hangars big enough for business planes.

Among other changes, the master plan proposes design standards for any new construction at the airfield.

Arntzen said that was partly in response to public input.

The updated master plan also recognizes the need to replace the present building that housed the former fixed-base operator, which provided ground support, such as fuel and parts, for aircraft using the airport.

But the plan proposes putting that off for at least five years, Arntzen said. The plan doesn't indicate whether it would be built by the port or a private developer.

Also in response to public input, the plan proposes port officials keep track of private investment in the field and periodically report back to the community.

"Part of the goal of the masterplan is to allow for private investment to come in so we are not funding everything with tax dollars," Arntzen said.

The proposed update of the plan is posted at www.portofkennewick.org.

Arntzen said the public may comment by calling the port at 586-1186 or by e-mailing him at ta@portofkennewick.org.

"Anything that comes in, whether it's somebody calling me or calling Larry (Peterson), we get those in front of the commissioners," Arntzen said.

Today's meeting is at 2 p.m. at the Port of Kennewick office, 350 Clover Island Drive, Kennewick.