Image courtesy of VHB/MEPA Office

Climate activists urged Massport officials to discard a proposal to add 27 hangars and enable an expansion of private jet service at Hanscom Field at the agency’s board meeting Thursday.

In January, a development team proposed expanding Hanscom Field’s private jet facilities by building nearly 500,000 square feet of hangar space.

The proposal immediately drew opposition from local residents and objections from environmentalists about the effects from additional carbon emissions.

Residents of Concord, Lincoln and Watertown said Thursday the project is irresponsible because of the increasing frequency of extreme weather globally and in Massachusetts.

“By signing off on this expansion project, Massport would be allowing the super-rich, those exotic creatures who can afford private jets, to continue their lives of unmitigated luxury, gallivanting off to their second or third homes, carelessly polluting the climate,” said the Rev. Garrett Yates of St. Anne’s in the Fields Episcopal Church in Lincoln.

The development team, Runway Realty Ventures and North Airfield Ventures, propose 27 new hangars totaling 408,360 square feet and renovation of their existing 88,110-square-foot former Navy hangar building.

The 1,125-acre air field in Bedford currently handles approximately 125,000 general aviation flights annually. The expansion project is needed because of excess demand for private jet service, developers stated in their application submitted to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office.

The three private jet operators at Hanscom have waiting lists for hangar space.

The project site spans 49 acres on the north side of the property at 154 Hartwell Road in Bedford.

During the public comment portion of today’s meeting, Concord resident Scott Richardson urged Massport to ban private jets at all of its properties, which include Logan International Airport in Boston, citing the agency’s 2021 Sustainability & Resiliency report which set a goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2031.

A Concord-based group, Save Our Heritage, has formed a coalition of environmental and civic groups called Stop Private Jet Expansion at Hanscom and Everywhere. 

Opponents also have scheduled a community meeting on Sept. 28 at Bedford Town Hall, including a virtual presentation by environmental activist Bill McKibben.

A land swap approved by Massport last fall would transfer 2.6 acres to the developers, in exchange for 5.2 acres owned by Massport, to improve access to runways as part of the project which would span a total of 49 acres. Developers would also ground-lease 28 acres from Massport.

Developers anticipate an 18-month permitting project and completion of the construction in 2026, according to the MEPA filing.

Directors did not respond to the comments made at today’s monthly meeting.