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Highlands Today

AP, County Mull Airport Land Use Changes

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Dan Kilpatrick, a concrete worker for Orangewood Builders, sets the framework for a concrete pad on a new building at the Avon Park Executive Airport on Tuesday. The building will contain a pilot's lounge, flight training center, conference room and waiting area for passengers.

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By BILL RETTEW JR.

Highlands Today

Published: November 26, 2008

AVON PARK - Construction of a new airport building at the Avon Park Executive Airport is nearly complete and a city/county joint commission might determine new land use rules for airport neighbors.
Airport director C.B. Shirey projected a February move-in date at the 5,000 square foot structure, with most of the external work already completed.

The city will lease space to a private fixed-base operator (FBO) and a car rental company.

A pilot's lounge, flight training center, conference room and waiting area for passengers are also planned for the $750,000 building. Shirey will then move back to the airport from his present office at City Hall.

"We needed a destination building for pilots and people flying in corporate aircraft," said Shirey, for what he referred to as the airport's "crown jewel."

A dispute between property owner Roland Dilley and the city led in part to talk of establishing a joint airport commission between the city and county.

In May, Dilley proposed construction of 346 affordable homes on his 43-acre property, across State Road 64 from the airport. He was represented by attorney Warwick "Bud" Furr.

The commission grappled with zoning regulations and land use development for county-controlled property surrounding the city-owned airport.

Section 4 of the Nov. 14, and most recent resolution draft of the board of county commissioners, reads that it will be the responsibility of the commission "to expeditiously formulate recommendations for the boundaries of the various zones to be established and the regulations thereon."

At Monday's meeting, the city council chose its three representatives for the six-member board. County commissioner Barbara Stewart said county commissioners plan to appoint three representatives to the commission at their next meeting, Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The city picked George Hall, John McClure and Richard McKenzie, all who have vested interests in the airport, to act as voting members of the commission, along with John Barben as an alternate.

Jim Polatty, development services director for the county, said the commission should need just two meetings, which are open to the public, to reach a consensus.

Polatty said the commission's first meeting will likely occur in December, when a commission chair will be chosen. Members might also become better acquainted with drafts of the interlocal agreement and ordinance changes.

Polatty expects adoption at a second meeting, and then immediate dissolution of the commission.

"It should be easy," said Polatty, "But I'm an optimist."

The city, county and public will all get a chance to comment.

"The Airport Zoning Commission shall make a preliminary report and hold public hearings ... before submitting its final report to the City Council for the City of Avon Park and the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners," reads the most recent draft.

Mike Willingham, executive director at the Sebring Regional Airport, will be a non-voting and interested observer at the meetings.

"The process needs to take place in order to maximize the potential for growth and development at the airport and property surrounding the airport," said Willingham. "We want to update our zoning (at the Sebring airport) and do something at some point, but not concerning the same issues."

During the CRA meeting, held earlier Monday, local attorney Bud Furr asked council to take a longer look at establishment of the commission.

"You need to defer and get some legal advice," said Furr. "This requires some legal vetting and needs to be carefully reviewed by the city attorney.

Council agreed and asked city attorney Gerald Buhr to examine the matter.

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