Washington County residents from Beaverton and Tualatin are among the appellants trying to block a $38 million private jet hub proposed for Hillsboro Airport, with a pivotal hearing set for tomorrow at 7 p.m.
The Hillsboro City Council will hold a de novo hearing (a fresh review of all evidence) on Sky Harbour Group's plan to build seven hangars totaling nearly 190,000 square feet, two 20,000-gallon underground jet-fuel tanks and capacity for about 30 ultra-long-range corporate jets on a 13.7-acre Port of Portland leasehold at 2315 NE Brookwood Parkway, the Hillsboro Herald reported. The site sits roughly 475 feet from the Hillsboro Brookwood Library.
Two citizen appeals challenge the Hillsboro Planning Commission's 5-0 approval (with one abstention) on May 27. Appeal 001-26 is led by Miki Barnes, founder of Oregon Aviation Watch. Appeal 002-26 is led by Sarah Richmond, Brett Hamilton and Valerie Pratt, Washington County residents from Beaverton and Tualatin who formed the group Oregon Air. Each appeal cost over $3,000 in fees.
Opponents say the flight path would pass 2,300 feet above Bull Mountain and 1,500 feet above Cooper Mountain, with noise and emissions affecting Beaverton, Aloha, Tualatin, King City and North Plains. Mailed public notices for the project were limited to a 500-foot radius around the tax lot, effectively excluding residents living under low-altitude flight corridors.
City planning staff, in a 29-page report issued Aug. 11, recommended the council deny both appeals and uphold the approval with revisions. Staff acknowledged procedural gaps in the Planning Commission's original order, including missing exhibits and incorrect dates, but argued the de novo hearing legally cures those defects. Staff maintained that in-flight noise and air corridors fall under FAA jurisdiction, not city authority.
The New York-based Sky Harbour Group is represented by land-use attorney Steven P. Hultberg of Radler White Parks & Alexander LLP. No on-record statement from Sky Harbour, its attorney or Hillsboro Mayor Beach Pace was found in available reporting. If the council upholds the approval, appellants could take the case to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, the Valley Times reported.
Under Oregon's 120-day land-use rule, the council must render a final decision by Sept. 13.
Tuesday's hearing takes place at the Shirley Huffman Auditorium, Hillsboro Civic Center, 150 East Main St. It is also accessible via Zoom. Oral testimony is limited to three minutes per speaker; written testimony should reference case DR-044-25.
