Planning Commission approves replacement terminal at Venice Airport, waives landscaping due to FAA guidance
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Summary
The commission voted 7-0 to approve site development plan petition 25-02SP for a replacement 4,000 sq ft terminal at Venice Airport, with staff noting compliance with zoning and an FAA advisory that discourages landscaping that attracts wildlife.
The Venice Planning Commission on Nov. 17 approved a site development plan for a new terminal and administration building at 150 Airport Avenue, voting 7-0 to accept staff findings and a stipulation that landscaping is not required because of FAA guidance.
Nicole Tremblay, senior planner for the City of Venice, told the commission the proposed building is roughly 4,000 square feet, would be hardened for hurricanes, include conference rooms, offices and flight-planning areas, and sit below the 35-foot height limit at 34 feet 10 inches. The plan also shows a new access drive, roughly 25 parking spaces, perimeter fencing and stormwater ponds. Tremblay said the airport parcel is zoned government and staff found the petition compliant with the comprehensive plan and land development code.
Tremblay highlighted an FAA advisory circular discouraging landscaping within zones that could attract wildlife near airports serving turbine-powered aircraft; staff therefore recommended not requiring trees or shrubs for this site. Shane Angolia of Recondo & Associates, the project agent, told commissioners the project already has roughly $6.5 million secured and is awaiting closeout paperwork and letters of commitment that he said would bring about 98% of the project funding into place. Angolia also said the construction manager at-risk reduced the initial price by about $550,000.
Tom Martin, a Crosswinds Landing resident, asked the commission to consider updated wind-rose data that he said favors Runway 5 rather than Runway 13/31; he offered to provide the overlay he had brought for the record. Nicole Tremblay and the applicant did not dispute the offer to supply additional wind records but noted the petition before the commission was the site plan for the building itself.
Commissioner Kit moved to approve site development plan petition 25-02SP based on the staff report and testimony; the commission added a stipulation making explicit that no additional landscaping would be required (consistent with the FAA advisory) and approved the petition 7-0.
The action is a local site plan approval; implementation steps such as final construction permitting and grant closeout remain ahead. The applicant (airport director Mark Servaiso and Recondo & Associates) said federal and state grant processes are underway to finalize remaining funding commitments.
