Holmes County holds first public hearing on airport impact overlay; second hearing set for April 15

Holmes County planning staff presented a proposed airport impact overlay ordinance and commissioners approved the measure on first reading, scheduling the second public hearing for April 15 at 9 a.m., staff said.

Planning staff told the board the overlay would create an airport impact zone with site-development standards that limit building heights and define an airspace around the runway. "This little stadium effect is more like an airspace, essentially, that they're establishing. You can't build buildings over a certain height within a certain distance of the runway," planning staff said during the hearing. The staff noted the county's land-development code was previously silent on the subject and the ordinance text is new.

The presentation said the overlay grew out of DOT-funded planning work with APCON and that adjacent counties — Washington and Jackson — already adopted similar language. Planning staff said the second required hearing will be April 15 at 9 a.m. and that staff can return with parcel counts and other details requested by commissioners.

A member of the public raised a question about how many parcels would be affected. Planning staff responded, "I don't know the exact number of parcels, but ... I can have that for you at the next public hearing if you'd like." The ordinance text presented references Florida Statute section 163.3202 and consistency with chapter 333 of the Florida statutes.

The board completed the first-reading motion and sent the ordinance to the April 15 second hearing. Staff will provide the requested parcel information and any required notices prior to the next hearing.

The county will hold the follow-up hearing at 9 a.m. to allow anyone who could not attend the evening meeting to participate.