A public-use airport in rural Utah is facing an uncertain future after town officials denied renewal of its business license and paused related permits while reconsidering local land-use rules. West Desert Airpark, located in Fairfield in the Cedar Valley southwest of Salt Lake City, has appealed the decision, with a ruling expected in early March. The action comes as the Fairfield Town Council restarts its review of proposed changes to its Airpark Mixed-Use Zone and Airpark Overlay ordinances, which govern airport-related development and surrounding property restrictions.
The airpark began as a private dirt strip in 2002 and became a public-use airport in 2018. It has since added hangars, a flying club, an aircraft repair operation and a flight school. A 5,200-foot-by-60-foot runway built with state grant assistance was completed two years ago, allowing for expanded operations.
Owner and chief flight instructor Matthew Kalm told local Fox 13 News the runway increased traffic and acknowledged the effects on the surrounding area.
“It did increase traffic by about 20% — which is significant,” Kalm said. “There’s airplanes. There’s noise, I completely understand … We want to work with the town. We want to make sure that our users out here are respecting the town. It would be a shame for it to just go away.”
Kalm also addressed the potential consequences of the town’s action on a personal level.
“It could mean I have to shut down my operation, which means I have no way to support my family until I have another means of work,” he said.
Town leaders say the matter centers on land-use compliance and impacts to neighboring property owners as airport activity has grown.
“From the Town’s perspective, this is about being fair to the Airpark and fair to neighbors who are dealing with increased flights overhead, more noise, and safety concerns close to their homes and property,” Fairfield Mayor Hollie McKinney said in a statement. “It’s also about a fair process. When a use grows or changes in a way that affects the people living next door, it needs to go through the Town’s land use process. That’s how we sort out things like increased activity, runway expansion, hours of operation, and how nearby property owners are protected. Those decisions should happen openly, with public input and action by the Town Council, so everyone understands the rules and the expectations going forward.”
During a September 2025 meeting, the council debated whether to immediately adopt revised airpark ordinances or restart the review process to allow additional collaboration. Representatives for West Desert Airpark agreed not to file new land-use applications for 180 days while revisions are considered, and the council voted to issue a new Notice of Pending Ordinance, effectively extending the timeline for further review as the business license appeal proceeds.
Ten lashes for the Fairfield City, Utah, Council and the nearby residents! The airpark has probably existed long before the people bought their properties. And with the property owners insufficient consideration for an airport, is on them. Not the airport!!!
It is called move your house; or take your house with you! In a remote location like Fairfield, it is not out of the question to move a home to a different location. Unlike, metro locations, land in rural locations is relatively cheap and moving houses is done with near regularity! Knowing local conditions matter, and the town of Fairfield and their residents are very, very short, and offensive! Flying for everyone, thank you very much! Having been through Utah over a dozen times; I like Utah, and would live there if the right job came along! I have never had a problem conversing with Mormons, though my wife has felt overwhelmed on occasion; and I do not know why. Up and down I-15, through Provo, regularly, in the distant past! And flying from California to: Wendover, NV, Toella, and SLC#2; and back; and driving I-80; 4 or 5 times both ways, either through or to SLC. Flew to Wendover one Christmas in the 1980s; from Tracy, CA, had my nose gear steering freeze up; did not matter, the ice on the runway and the taxiways made it easy to turn without nose gear steering! Just turn the ailerons and the rudder and use differential braking; piece of cake.
Did you read the article? It started as a private dirt strip in 2002, became public use in 2018 and had a 5,200’ runway completed two years ago. If you want to play the “who was here first” card, then the airport loses.
Does not matter. Land is cheap in most rural locations, relatively speaking. Meaning, homeowners should move their houses or just move somewhere else; rather than shutting down an airport. It still sounds like the airport was there first!