Vero Beach Airport projects advance: baggage‑claim renovation, parking expansion, terminal upgrades and stormwater work

Airport staff and consultants updated the city council on several airport projects including a terminal baggage‑claim expansion, associated terminal upgrades, and a parking‑lot expansion intended to add paved and grass parking to meet growing passenger demand.

Todd (identified in the record as airport staff) said the baggage‑claim expansion is one element of a larger terminal renovation that will also add covered walkways, a covered exterior waiting area, more space in the sterile area, restroom access, parking‑lot improvements and new lighting. He told the council the contract has been awarded to Proctor Construction and that the airport will bring a resolution to accept FAA funding on Feb. 11. Staff said FDOT funding is in hand and FAA funding acceptance is pending; if contract finalization and FAA paperwork proceed the airport expects a notice to proceed in early March, substantial completion by mid‑September and final inspection around mid‑October.

On the parking expansion, airport staff said consultants reached 60% design and expect 90% plans in late February, with permit submittal by Feb. 28 and a bid opening in May or June. The parking design adds about 113 paved spaces plus approximately 40 grass spaces south of the existing paved lot, with a potential total airport parking of roughly 232 spaces including existing inventory; staff said the contractor expects a 60–90 day construction window and that construction would likely start in July.

Staff emphasized that part of the work required separating FAA‑eligible items from FDOT‑eligible items in the overall project budget. “Our consultants had to go down and break the entire project into FAA eligible and FDOT eligible and make sure that we weren't using the wrong amount of money for something that wasn't eligible,” an airport staff member said.

Brandon, the airport’s grants/project administrator, told council the airport is also advancing a stormwater master plan and airport layout plan. The stormwater team is updating hydraulic modeling after recent storms, surveying drainage structures, and factoring new state stormwater quality requirements into capital planning. Staff said they expect the stormwater master plan deliverable in April, pending FAA airport layout plan approval.

Nut Graf: The airport projects are moving through design and procurement with mixed funding from FDOT and FAA; the baggage‑claim work has a construction contractor and an expected spring start, while the parking expansion remains in design with a planned mid‑year construction window.

Other notes and schedule highlights

- Terminal/baggage claim: Proctor Construction awarded; resolution to accept FAA funding planned for Feb. 11; notice to proceed targeted early March; substantial completion mid‑September; final inspection mid‑October, pre‑busy season. - Parking expansion: 60% design complete; 90% plans late February; permit submittal Feb. 28; bid opening May/June; anticipated construction start July; project duration 60–90 days; features include 113 new paved spaces, ~40 grass spaces and new lighting and irrigation. - Grants and eligibility: Staff must track FAA vs. FDOT eligible items and manage paperwork; Brandon will administer grants and contracts. - Accessibility: Parking redesign may convert existing spaces into additional ADA stalls.

Ending: Council members asked for signage and public messaging about upcoming terminal work; airport staff offered to provide completion timelines for signage and concept graphics for public awareness.