Commission forwards PUD to county council to regularize private airstrip and related uses, 4–3
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Summary
PLDRC forwarded a planned unit development (PUD) rezoning to County Council with a 4–3 vote to legitimize an existing family property’s uses (house, barn/ADU, observation tower and a grass landing strip) and to require removal of asphalt from a private airstrip subject to FDOT/FAA approval.
The PLDRC voted 4–3 on Feb. 19 to forward a PUD rezoning (PUD2410) to County Council with a recommendation of approval. The request would rezone 67.9 acres from Resource Corridor to Planned Unit Development in order to consolidate three parcels and regularize existing uses, including a home, garage, barn with an ADU, a 175-foot observation tower and an asphalt airstrip the owner agreed to remove and restore as a grass landing strip pending FDOT and FAA approvals.
Planner Steve Shams said the proposal does not increase residential density, removes nearly 59,000 square feet of asphalt as part of the development agreement, and prohibits fuel storage and other aviation-commercial uses; environmental staff and planning reviewed the application and raised no objections provided conditions and removal of asphalt proceed under federal and state approvals.
Applicant attorney Mark Watts said the PUD simply legitimizes existing, long-standing uses and limits future entitlements. Commissioners who opposed the transmittal — Members Craig and Bush and Member Harrison — said they were concerned about precedent and siting a fly-in/airstrip use inside an environmentally sensitive corridor. Member Bush said the PUD sets a precedent for allowances in conservation areas and warned that future personal aviation options may expand, creating more cases like this.
Supporters of the PUD, including staff and the applicant, said the PUD is the only feasible mechanism to consolidate and regulate current uses while imposing prohibitions (for example, no on-site aviation fuel storage) and restoration obligations to reduce impervious cover.
The PLDRC vote to forward the PUD to County Council was 4 in favor and 3 opposed. The County Council will take final action during a subsequent public hearing.