Over the past year, Meadow Lake Airport, a general aviation airport in northeast El Paso County, has seen more than one disagreement about how privately owned hangars can be used.

The disagreements have centered on whether non-aviation use of the spaces could be granted in contradiction to Meadow Lake’s special zoning. Airport manager Dave Elliot says other types of businesses could pose a safety risk and take away coveted hangar space for private pilots.

“I have concerns that it’s an airport, and they’re gradually turning this into a business park,” he said.

On Tuesday, the county commissioners approved a variance for one business, Pro Trans Plus, a small commercial garage. Owner Jeff Gandara agreed to multiple conditions for the variance, including limiting the number of trips made for the business per day and parking spots taken.

Gandara said that the business services airplanes and other airport-related vehicles, but that outside customers were necessary to stay in business. Pro Trans Plus has operated out of the hangar since 2006, according to county records.

“This shop is how I support myself,” he told commissioners Thursday.

The county planning commission did not recommend the variance, mainly due to questions over the ownership of the hangar that were resolved by the time the application came to the decision-making board.

The commissioners, in line with a similar decision made last year about another company, approved the variance 4 to 1.

“Things from the application show they are working hard to make sure this is a safe part of the airport,” said commission chair Carrie Geitner.

In February, the commission approved a variance for an El Paso County contractor, Watts Uplifting, which installs decals, sirens and other features on vehicles intended for official use.

Meadow Lake Airport is the largest pilot-owned airport in the state, according to its website. The airport has 415 based aircraft and a small residential community of pilots. The airport is also designated as a “receiver” for diverting small aircraft from Colorado Springs Airport to the south.

Elliot said that the airport occasionally sees safety issues due to vehicles sharing space with airplanes, especially when the vehicle’s driver isn’t familiar with airport rules. He said the airport’s design does not lend well to fencing off the runway and taxiways from the rest of the airport, similar to some other small airfields.

“We do have a security problem,” he said.

Elliot said he felt the airport’s zoning had some room for ambiguity and exceptions, including a past restaurant and plans for a “fly in” Airbnb. He said that Gandara’s business itself was “not creating a problem.”