The voters of Kennewick and the Port of Kennewick made it clear in the last election that they wanted Vista Field to remain open as a catalyst for development.
Fulfillment of their wish seems at hand.
The port is asking the Kennewick City Council to rezone for development part of the surrounding land that does not fall within the port's jurisdiction.
This always was the plan.
A past city council majority favored closing Vista Field and opening the airport land for development. Some of the strongest advocates for that are no longer on the council or on the city staff.
One local businessman already at Vista Field, Carl Cadwell of Cadwell Laboratories, said during the campaign to save Vista Field that he was prepared to spend $10 million in the next 10 years, and possibly more, on projects tied to the airport.
Cadwell was a major player in the airport discussions and political fundraising for airport-friendly candidates in the last election.
Uncertainty over the airport's future and zoning conditions on land under the city's control bordering the airport put his plans on hold.
But now Cadwell Laboratories is expanding at its current location on West Kellogg Street.
Cadwell told the port commission last year he intended to expand and add up to 50 jobs if the airport remained open.
And Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute plans to build a $5 million medical facility next to Vista Field that could add about 40 new jobs to the economy.
The institute's current location is near Vista Field but a new building would serve its medical staff even better if it were adjacent to the airport. The doctors have 17 locations in the Northwest and are ferried to them by air.
If the port now can find a fixed-base operator for the airport, we anticipate further development at Vista Field.
A fixed-base operator is essential to successful operation of a small airport.
Runways must be inspected regularly and maintained. Fuel must be readily available. Lights must be ready for night landings. Radios are essential, and being able to buy them and other aviation electronics on site is desirable.
Minimum requirements for a successful operation at an airport like Vista Field include a flying school -- which means having rental planes available as well as instructors -- and a maintenance department.
Private aviation is heavily regulated by the federal government. Annual inspections of planes and regular overhauls of aircraft engines are required.
All that and keep the grass cut, too.
Contracting with Vista Field's next fixed-base operator is an important step for the port commissioners and port manager.
The recent string of good news, even without a permanent manager in place, is reassuring.
Cadwell Laboratories and Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute are fine companies that ought to attract more development.
If Kennewick comes through with the needed zoning changes, the city and the port will have much to be proud of -- government working the way it is supposed to work.
