Planning commission approves rezoning to accommodate UF Health air‑ambulance helipad at Pearson Airport

The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to adopt Ordinance 2026‑05 on April 28, changing the airport’s zoning from A‑1 to a planned development to formally permit aviation uses and a proposed UF Health air‑ambulance helipad. Mark, a staff planner, told the commission the planned development will attach a development order to the ordinance that spells out permitted uses, setbacks and a site plan consistent with FAA documentation.

Mark said the ordinance “recognizes the airport as a rural general purpose airport” and lists uses such as runways, taxiways, hangars and a modular building to support the helipad that will include pilot offices and a rest area. He told commissioners UF Health received county approval to operate air ambulance service and selected Pearson as a base, prompting the need to clear zoning for the first substantive airport development in years.

Commissioners reviewed maps in the staff packet showing the parcels to be rezoned and conservation areas that would remain. Mark said the rezoned boundary was chosen to match FAA records and to limit survey costs. Commissioners asked whether the facility would include flight instruction; staff and a mayoral commenter clarified the immediate purpose is emergency medical flights, not a training school, though future training uses remain possible.

A motion to adopt the ordinance passed on a roll‑call vote after the staff presentation and public clarification. The commission directed staff to forward the ordinance and attached development order to the town council for final action and to prepare any needed landscape and infrastructure plans tied to future site development.