Venice commission approves Agape Flights’ 12,000‑sq‑ft hangar; council must amend lease first

The Venice Planning Commission on Jan. 20 approved Site Development Plan Petition No. 24‑46‑SP, clearing the way for Agape Flights to build a roughly 12,000‑square‑foot hangar on a 2.02‑acre leased parcel at Venice Municipal Airport. The commission’s approval came with a stipulation that the city must amend Agape’s lease to incorporate the new site area and that the lease amendment be approved by City Council before construction begins.

Nicole Tremblay, senior planner for the City of Venice, told commissioners the application is consistent with the comprehensive plan and the Land Development Code and meets zoning standards for setbacks, lot coverage and height. Tremblay said staff approved an alternate parking plan administratively because the requested reduction was about 10 percent, and that the proposed building height of about 30 feet is under the 35‑foot limit. "We believe there's sufficient information on the record for planning commission to take action on this petition," she said.

Alan Spear, CEO of Agape Flights, described the nonprofit’s humanitarian mission and the operational need for the new hangar. "As we look toward the future ... we anticipate breaking ground sometime this year on a new hangar located right next to our current facility," Spear said, saying the expansion would increase maintenance capacity and allow fleet growth to serve mission partners in Haiti and throughout the Caribbean.

Neighbors raised concerns during the public comment period. Tom Martin, a resident at 217 Airport Avenue W., urged Agape to use Runway 23 — the airport’s designated noise‑abatement runway — when operationally feasible, saying Agape frequently departs Runway 13 and that altered operations would be a better neighbor. "If Agape can afford a new hangar and expanded operations, I'm asking them to be a better neighbor and depart Runway 23 when it's operationally feasible," Martin said.

Russ Grootry, a nearby property owner, asked about potential impacts to a wooded area he said the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has documented as a historical bald eagle nesting area. Staff and the applicant’s technical presenter said environmental studies had been completed for permitting and that the permit review did not identify any existing bald eagles on the property; the technical presenter stated, "No existing bald eagles." The commission’s written stipulation requires an amendment to the lease be approved by City Council before construction occurs.

Commissioners moved to approve the plan "based on review of the application materials, the staff report and testimony provided during the public hearing," with the motion including the staff‑proposed lease stipulation. The motion passed on a 6‑0 vote, with one commissioner absent.

Next steps: The approval is subject to the lease amendment; the city attorney and staff said construction cannot begin until City Council approves the lease amendment incorporating the new site area.