Property Owner Next To AP Airport Still At Odds With City

AVON PARK - A property owner that has been at odds with the Avon Park Executive Airport for years over his development plans is pushing forward with a new plan for a 43-acre, 346-unit working-class housing project.

Roland Dilley's attorney Warwick "Bud" Furr said the plan for the property, located across State Road 64 from the airport, would not conflict with the city-owned airport's runway protection zones.

"We've done everything that they asked us to do," Furr said. "We really think it's inappropriate for the city or the county to object."

Nonetheless, Dilley hit some more snags.

He applied to have those 43 acres rezoned for higher-density housing with the county Tuesday morning, but the vote on the application was delayed.

The city brought up additional concerns that evening. Councilman George Hall pointed out that the zoning did not come with an agreement to lower the density of the front of the property, where the runway protection zone extends.

"We can't give you what you want if you don't give us what we want," Hall said Wednesday. "Negotiations go both ways."

Airport Manager C.B. Shirey added that the request did not come with a deed restriction making sure that a future owner would hold to the agreement not to build in the front of the property.

Meanwhile, the city approved a plan Tuesday evening to extend runway 4/22 2,000 feet toward the southwest. The project would cost an estimated $7 million, with the city paying more than $175,000 of the total costs.