I am trying to imagine Dick only wanting certain people to increase their flight sim developer skills. Everyone here already has their top level "Q" security clearance, correct?
Does adding the airport help with the terraforming resolution? A normal scenery package without an airport can also use terraform polygons.
Also, side question: can you add an existing nearby airport ICAO as the airport used for this, and just have it completely empty, but then also use an add-on airport with the same ICAO without any issues (so you'll have duplicate airports, but one completely empty - just the airport object). I'm pretty sure I've done this before and didn't notice any problems in the add-on airport, but perhaps I just got lucky.
Terraforming haas only the one level of fidelity, so if it's available outside airport bounds, then the airport is unnecessary.
As to ICAO, the sim is pretty particular about nomenclature. I did an addon for 4s2, I'd wanted to recreate some of the iconic sights of the Gorge, but the other developer had done a really good job with my home airport and I didn't want to disrespect by stepping on it. The sim outright rejected my first attempt 4s2a, perfectly valid, available, but freezes the sim, I tried one or two others and settled on KHRM and it starts without a hiccup.