Commission debates private grass airstrip; owner says FAA cleared site and plans limited personal use

The Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission heard extensive public comment and staff testimony on SE2503, the petitioner James Haney’s request for a private grass runway on agricultural property along White Road.

Petitioner James Haney told the commission he has lived on White Road for 25 years and has been a pilot for about 20 years. He said the runway would be grass, private-use only, not open to the public, and would host a small single-seat or two-seat short takeoff-and-landing (STOL) craft. “This strip would be used during the daytime only,” Haney said, noting the aircraft he flies holds 12 gallons of fuel and can be described as "a golf cart with wings." He said he estimated "about 20" takeoffs and landings per month depending on weather and availability.

Haney submitted a Federal Aviation Administration airspace evaluation letter. He said he had worked with the FAA and the Brooksville–Tampa Bay regional airport and that the FAA issued a "no objection" determination after reviewing obstacles and airspace. He emphasized the intended private, noncommercial nature of the operation and said the strip has a gated perimeter fence and would not be open to the public.

Supporters included Bruce Harding, a longtime pilot who said he has experience with grass strips and described Haney as "a licensed, safety conscious pilot" who operates under FAA safety standards. Harding said private grass strips can be low-noise and locally beneficial. Other speakers said they had spoken with Haney and supported the application.

Opponents raised several concerns: noise and property values, flight paths over meadows and neighborhoods, the risk of emergency landings near houses, impacts on children and horses in yards, and the effect of an airstrip on resale values. Scott Krause, whose house would be about 300 feet from the proposed strip, told the commission "noise pollution is one of them" and said he was worried about safety and property values. Several Oaks neighborhood residents asked whether the county’s 500-foot public-notice radius had been sufficient given the number of people who would be affected.

Commissioners asked technical questions about FAA involvement, night operations, the potential for helicopters, and whether the airstrip would be used by other pilots. Haney said the FAA clearance addressed obstacle and airspace safety, the airstrip would be daytime-only (FAA letter referenced daylight operation), and that pistons and light-prop aircraft such as his Kitfox are far quieter than jets—at full power, he said, they “sound like a weed eater” or lawnmower. He also said helicopters were not planned and that he'd have to give permission to any visiting pilots.

After public comment, commissioners discussed options including a conditional or trial period instead of a full permanent entitlement so neighbors and staff could evaluate impacts. Staff described precedent options: the commission can approve as a conditional use and require the applicant to return after a period (for example two years) to demonstrate operations and community compatibility. Commissioners expressed divergent views: some favored a conditional approval with monitoring to protect neighbors, while others were comfortable approving the private-use runway as requested.

The transcript records detailed questioning from commissioners on hours, aircraft types, liability and fencing; speakers also noted local farm and traffic noise on White Road and said some neighbors already live near existing airstrips.

The commission did not record a final action in the public portion of the transcript excerpted here; commissioners instead discussed recommending a conditional approach and asked staff to draft performance conditions for Board of County Commissioners review. The transcript records extensive debate and point/counterpoint between neighbors and the petitioner on noise, safety and future uses.