The Northwestern Regional Airport Commission - which oversees property expansion and maintenance for Cherry Capital Airport - will seek approval from Grand Traverse County commissioners Wednesday night to purchase the former Charter Communications building at 701 South Airport Road.

Because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) installed a new GPS approach at the airport last summer, the facility now requires an expanded Runway Protection Zone. The Airport Commission is prepared to make a good faith offer of $215,000 for the Charter property in order to create such a zone. Removing the building and leveling the land is expected to cost another $40,000, while surveying and engineering studies are estimated at $33,500. The Airport Commission will use airport funds restricted for the purchase of property for the project, then seek reimbursement from the FAA.

Both the Grand Traverse and Leelanau commissions will need to approve the land acquisition, as the airport is co-owned by those counties.