• Chino Valley residents chose this community for its rural atmosphere, quiet environment, open space, wildlife, dark skies, and lower-density lifestyle. The proposed Phase 1 airfield and associated flight training operations would significantly alter the character of the east side. Residents near the proposed site and east of Highway 89 are already experiencing concentrated flight activity associated with ERAU training operations, often occurring every few minutes for extended periods throughout the day and evening. When Phases 2-4 are developed, the airport/industrial park will increase aircraft traffic, further urbanizing our town, and permanently change the experience of living in rural Chino Valley.

• The Council’s hasty decision is not based on facts, is inconsistent, and locks us in to whatever the developer decides to do in the future. The Council’s decision was apparently based on potential future revenue, but there was NO fiscal analysis of the economic benefits. There was NO study of the costs to the Town. It is unclear if the project has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State Transportation Board. Why approve rezoning for a project that lacks the required permits?
• We are concerned that this is a “pig in a poke”: a thing that is bought without first being inspected, and thus of unknown authenticity or quality.

• The council has rejected two proposals for utility-scale solar on east side ranch properties. In both cases, citizens were loudly opposed. In both cases, there were substantial economic benefits to the school district and no cost to the Town. The Council voted to reject the solar facilities saying that they were not compatible with the rural character of the town.
• It is inconsistent and irrational to approve an airport/industrial complex with noisy air traffic and uncertain economic benefit, despite strong citizen opposition, while ignoring the obvious destruction of our rural tranquility.

The rezoning permits a four-phase project. Phase 1 is the airstrip. Phase 2-4 will create an industrial park that is only described with hand-waving and glowing prose. AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes submitted a letter to the Council Letter from AG pointing out that citizens may only protest the rezoning, not any subsequent development of Phases 2-4 at the site. This means that citizens may not have any legal recourse to Phase 2-4 development decisions by the Council.

• Some councilpersons have made exaggerated claims that the airport would generate millions of dollars in revenue for the Town annually. 

• Flight training will not provide revenue for the Town.  Developers allege revenue from a new industrial park near the airport, but they provide NO supporting data. The Council has NO BASIS to believe that any businesses will locate there, especially since Old Home Manor has failed to attract one business.

• We originally estimated the revenue to the town from the Transaction Privilege Tax (sales tax, or TPT) from the estimated initial construction costs ($15 million) to no more than $400,000 sales tax revenue for one-time only.  

• On August 6, 2026 the proponents for the project released an analysis that tries to convince their readers that the 8 year build out will provide significant revenue flow.   Using the Arizona Model Tax Code, the financial estimates provided on the Yes groups website was analyzed.  In summary the first 8 years will provide an average of $387k per year for the build out years of 2026 to 2034, or just under 1% of the annual 2026 budget. 

• They did provide a 20 year analysis of the anticipated Operations revenue for the town which amounts to approximately $70,000/year or about .15% of the annual town’s budget.

• Until a final agreement is executed and voluntarily disclosed by the parties, the specific financial terms regarding revenue percentages or flight-hour fees remain unknown.  

• It is never wise to go forward with a project of this magnitude without understanding the financial impact on all parties involved.  

• Calculations of these figures are on file and can be shared by contacting us at keepchinorural@gmail.com

• This project will likely cost taxpayers, and we have no idea how much. We can expect expenses for Perkinsville Road rebuilding/maintenance, for emergency services, and who knows what else. This has not been analyzed by the Council. The only thing we know for sure at this point is expenses to the taxpayer are guaranteed but any revenue to the town is unknown and pure speculation.
• The proposed airport/industrial park will further degrade Perkinsville Road, Highway 89, and other roadways within Chino Valley city limits. The heavy equipment and materials required to construct a airport/industrial park will be destructive to existing roadways. The repair and upkeep of these roads is the responsibility of the Town, so taxpayers will be footing the bill. Since the Town has a limited budget for road repairs, the additional maintenance will likely take resources away from other roadways in your neighborhood.

• "Chino Valley values its peaceful rural character, rich agricultural and equestrian heritage and expansive vistas” is a quote from the "Make it Chino! 2040 General Plan" which was developed by the citizens of Chino Valley. Converting 366 acres of undeveloped land into an airport and industrial/research/development business park is far from the "peaceful rural character, rich agricultural and equestrian heritages with expansive vistas" that the citizens of Chino Valley envisioned. Rural character, once lost, cannot be restored.
• Chino Valley residents chose Chino Valley because it is rural and quiet. Rural Character is written in the 2040 General Plan that was overwhelmingly ratified by the voters in 2023. This airport/industrial park is a direct assault on the peaceful rural character of our town. We believe the voters have the right to complain about an airport being forced on them in direct opposition to what was promised in the Chino Valley General Plan. The plan emphasizes preservation of rural character, responsible growth, and protection of existing neighborhoods. The proposed airport conflicts with those goals by introducing industrial-style aviation activity into a predominantly residential and rural environment.

• There will be up to 80,000 aircraft operations a year between 5:30 am and 11:30 pm.
• The issue is not occasional aviation activity. The concern is the cumulative impact of high-frequency repetitive training operations occurring daily in close proximity to homes and rural neighborhoods.
• The airport initially would be used as a private training airport for ERAU students. For the phase 1 uses for student training, there will be 110 landings and 110 take-offs per day (5:30 am - 11:30 pm). That is 80,000 per year! If bad weather prohibited flying for a couple of days those missed flights could be made up in following days.
• The flight operations will inevitably increase due to the Phase 2-4 industrial park which will attract corporate jets and noisy helicopter traffic.
• The air traffic pattern will extend over residential areas miles from the airport.

• See these videos of training air traffic:
  • Cottonwood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGVFFdR9bFA
  • Mesa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxI9q-JyowI
• Student pilot training operations will cause substantial increases in aircraft activity. Many neighborhoods east of Highway 89 already experience repeated flight patterns throughout the day, including aircraft circling, low-altitude turns, and repetitive training maneuvers. Community concerns include:
  • Aircraft passing overhead every few minutes.
  • Evening flight activity extending late into the night.
  • Increased noise disruption for families, pets, and livestock.
  • Reduced ability to enjoy outdoor spaces.
  • Sleep disruption and stress associated with repetitive noise exposure. Don’t be misled by claims that the decibel levels are low. Decibels measure sound pressure, not annoyance. That cricket in the kitchen, chirping at midnight, is pretty annoying but is very low decibel.
  • The proposed airfield/industrial park will increase aviation activity over residential areas and make the problem worse.

• Overall, the use of leaded fuel poses serious risks that warrant careful consideration and regulation. This was not considered by the Council.
• Leaded aviation fuel is used primarily in small piston-engine aircraft. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that lead emissions from aircraft operating on leaded aviation fuel release lead particles into the air, which can contaminate soil and water and  endanger public health.
• Lead exposure can cause irreversible and lifelong health effects, especially in children. Residents near general aviation airports have been found to have lead in their blood. Exposure to lead causes serious health issues, particularly in children, including developmental problems, cognitive impairments, and behavioral issues.
• Love Field is #3 on the top lead emissions in the US. The proposed airport will transfer that pollution to Chino Valley.
• For 80,000 student flight operations (40,000 touch and go, each taking 20 min) in a Cessna 172 using 8 gal/hr of aviation gas containing 2.1 grams of lead per gallon, approximately 525 pounds of lead/year is released and deposited within the airport vicinity and, especially for low altitude flights, on the surrounding several-mile area. This does not include lead releases from flight activity between Love Field and Chino Valley. That is a lot of lead!
• Lead release will continue until ERAU updates all training aircraft to unleaded fuel, which will take years.

• The proposed airport is a really bad idea for both people and wildlife, and especially for pronghorn. The grassland habitat south of Chino Valley and into Prescott Valley is some of the highest-quality pronghorn habitat in Arizona, and the parcel in question is part of that contiguous habitat. The rezoned parcel is frequented by pronghorns - it’s not unusual to see 30-40 pronghorns at one time.
• Pronghorns need an open, wide corridor to move and migrate and are hyper-sensitive to habitat disruptions. The FAA requires wildlife-proof fencing around the airport that will fragment pronghorn habitat and pinch pronghorn movement between the airport and the cattle auction buildings. The result is that the proposed airport reduces the existing movement corridor in half! For the last 50 years, pronghorn habitat has been consistently reduced by development. Additional reductions really hurt these ancient and magnificent animals. If this keeps up, we won’t have a herd.
• None of the individual development decisions made in the past were in themselves a death-knell for the herd, but their cumulative effect was to fragment populations and condemn them to local extinction via a process that is well-known in ecology and conservation biology. The proposed airport is one step closer to extinction.
• Many species of birds would be affected by constant aircraft noise. In addition, larger birds including the Bald and Gold Eagle would be vulnerable to low-altitude flight patterns and high frequency noise. Severe stress causes birds to abandon their nests even if babies are in the nest. Burrowing owls now occupy the airport area.

• There will be no Fire Station or staff on site for Phase 1. It only takes one accidental ignition to start a wildfire that could spread.
• Fire services are apparently required for Phase 2-4. ERAU & the Perkins Ranch assert that they will pay for the initial building, but it is unclear who will be responsible for the ongoing costs of maintaining a fire station at the airport site. In the initial presentation, it was stated that the Fire Station would be available for the local general population should a need arise. If this is true then it could increase property taxes associated with CAFMA's portion of the annual bill and could represent between a total of $2.5 million to $3.5 million to be divided between the airfield and general public in the fire station's district. In subsequent presentations it was unclear who is responsible for the annual funding of the Fire Station or if it would be solely for the use of the Airfield.

• Under Arizona Department of Real Estate regulations, agents must disclose all material, adverse facts about a property. A nearby airport project—even if it is only in the planning or construction phase—is must be disclosed because future aircraft noise, overflights, and traffic will directly impact a buyer's enjoyment and future property value. This can suppress valuation and cause homes to take longer to sell. See this report from Phoenix: https://www.azfamily.com/2026/06/06/report-new-flight-paths-could-drop-phoenix-area-home-values-up-18-billion/
• Studies commonly find value reductions ranging from 5% to 20% in high-noise areas, particularly beneath approach and departure paths. Research shows that within 1–3 miles of the airport, property values are often lower than comparable homes elsewhere because of aircraft noise, night operations, traffic congestion, safety concerns (real or perceived), and air pollution.

• For the phase 1 airport, we see little impact on groundwater resources. For Phase 2-4 industrial park, groundwater use is unknown until the specific industrial uses are determined. Phase 2-4 water use could vary between a little and a lot. This is an example of the many uncertainties that remain to be studied.

• The airport/industrial complex is not connected with Perkins’ development rights. With or without the airport/industrial park, Perkins has the right to develop their property for homes. In the Prescott AMA there are abundant legal water rights available for purchase at reasonable cost, permitting Perkins to potentially develop their property subject to the subdivision rules of Arizona and Chino Valley.

Many of our neighbors outside the Town limits are seriously affected by this airport/industrial park proposal. They shop and do business in Chino Valley and are vigorously opposed to the airport, but they cannot vote. We should consider our neighbors and vote NO on Prop 410.

• Keep Chino Rural respects the Perkins Family and we value their 125 year ranching history in Chino Valley. We want them to keep ranching! The vast open spaces of the ranch provide open space views and habitat for pronghorn and other wildlife. We appreciate Perkins efforts to support wildlife. We disagree with Perkins’ airport/industrial park plan, but we support their historic family business.

For more than thirty years, our 100-acre sanctuary of peace has watched over this magnificent valley—a place where silence is sacred. Just 1.2 miles from the proposed airport training center this sanctuary has become far more than a local landmark. It is a living beacon of peace, welcoming seekers from 32 nations and offering refuge to more than 55,000 people who have come here in search of healing, clarity, and spiritual renewal. Each year, over 2,000 visitors come to reconnect with the stillness that nourishes the human spirit.

Our roots in this community run deep. Over the past three decades, we have invested more than $5 million into our campus, creating 40 buildings through the skill and dedication of local contractors and workers. We help sustain local businesses, attract visitors to Chino Valley, support our fire department, and contribute meaningfully to the economic vitality of this region. Our presence has enriched this community both spiritually and economically.

Today, this legacy stands at a crossroads.

The proposed airport training center would not simply introduce inconvenience—it would fundamentally alter the sanctuary we have carefully cultivated for three decades. Flight operations from 5:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m., seven days a week, would replace the sacred stillness with relentless noise. The silence that makes meditation, prayer, contemplation, and spiritual transformation possible would be shattered. What has served as a haven for thousands would become unrecognizable. The impact would not only undermine our religious mission but also threaten the very survival of our organization.

The consequences extend far beyond our gates. Aviation fuel emissions release lead and other pollutants into the environment, exposing families, children, wildlife, and future generations to unnecessary health risks. Clean air is not a luxury—it is a sacred trust we all share and a responsibility we must protect.

We love this country. We support aviation, and we recognize the importance of training the next generation of pilots. But progress must be guided by wisdom, not convenience. In a valley as vast as ours, there are viable alternative locations where an airport training facility can thrive without sacrificing an established place of worship, disrupting thousands of residents, or permanently diminishing the peaceful character of this community.

We stand firmly opposed to this proposed development, alongside the overwhelming majority of our neighbors who believe that peace, quiet, and clean air are treasures worth protecting. A peaceful refuge is not easily created. It is built through decades of devotion, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment. Once its silence is lost, it cannot simply be reclaimed. Some things, once broken, cannot be restored.