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County says airport overlay ordinance aims to limit structures near runways; residents press officials on noise, flight-school activity and airport finances
Summary
County staff described an airport-overlay ordinance intended to restrict structures that could obstruct flight paths; multiple residents urged the county to address aircraft noise, flight-school touch-and-go operations and questioned airport finances and avigation easements.
County staff told municipal leaders at a Feb. 5 joint workshop that an airport-overlay ordinance—prepared by county attorneys—is a statutory requirement intended to prevent construction that could create hazards near runways; staff stressed the ordinance addresses physical obstructions, not aircraft noise.
A county staff attorney said the draft overlay would prohibit structures that intrude into approach and departure surfaces from runways and that municipalities could adopt identical language or allow the county ordinance to apply within municipal boundaries. He said the county plans to bring the ordinance forward for adoption in March and has circulated the draft to municipal attorneys for review. The county attorney and staff repeatedly told attendees that the ordinance “is about structures and hazards for airplanes” and not a noise-control ordinance.
Several residents and business representatives used public comment time to press officials on airport noise, flight-school activity and airport finances. Multiple speakers cited Flagler Executive Airport financial reports and said the airport operated at a loss in 2022 and 2023; one public speaker said the 2022 operating deficit was “close to $1,000,000” and the 2023 deficit “close to $2,000,000.” Other commenters asked whether taxpayers are subsidizing airport operations and said they were concerned about frequent touch-and-go training operations that they called a persistent nuisance to neighborhoods.
Speakers also asked whether the county had obtained avigation easements for nearby properties and urged changes to local nuisance/noise rules to address repeated low approaches and training maneuvers. A public speaker urged removal of a noise-code exemption that excludes aircraft noise from local enforcement because of FAA jurisdiction. County staff responded that the overlay ordinance will not address noise, and that noise concerns will need to be handled separately through the airport master plan and other processes; staff said the airport master plan update will include a new noise study and a community task force.
No ordinance vote occurred at the workshop. County staff said municipal attorneys have the draft and that municipalities should decide whether to adopt matching ordinances or allow the county version to control in their jurisdictions.
