P&Z approves Hernando’s second private airstrip
BROOKSVILLE – The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved Monday a special exception-use permit for a private airstrip on 36.5 acres of homesteaded property off Mondon Hill Road, south of Popiel Road.
Applicants Jeffrey and Cynthia Jones said the Hernando County Code of Ordinances allow a small portion of agricultural land to be used for an air strip for personal use, which was the primary reason they chose this agricultural property.
“In the early days of aviation, most airports were nothing more than a grass runway field where aircraft would land as required,” Jones said.
Aside from airstrips for Oak Hill and Spring Hill hospitals, the only private airstrip like the kind Jones is applying for in Hernando County is the Chinsegut Airstrip. Others like it exist in Pasco and Citrus counties, such as Cubhaven, Dusty Patch, and Field of Dreams in Pasco, and Oak Post in Citrus County.
“With this approval I hope to be the second private airstrip in Hernando County,” Jones said. “Private means private. The air strip is for my occasional, personal use. It is not, nor will it ever be a public use airstrip. It will not be for public access.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) application is for daylight hours only, and no lighting on turf air strip. For additional safety, Jones said, the local power company has agreed to install red bulbs on power lines east of the property.
The self-imposed restriction of flying during daylight hours only will help reduce sound levels, Jones said, and the type of plane he uses measures less than that of a household vacuum cleaner at a distance of ten feet.
“The reality is that airplanes are no louder than everyday sound levels,” Jones said.
The Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport has issued a letter of no conflict with the private airstrip, which is a requirement by the FAA for a private airstrip applicant to do so.
There are about 600 private airstrips in the state of Florida, and the airstrip’s approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday does not mean that the state will approve the airstrip, “but it does represent the first step.”
“The primary reason my wife and I have chose this Hernando County cattle ranch property is because provisions have been made from the Hernando County Code of Ordinance for special exceptions in the permitting process to allow ranch land to be used as a private airstrip,” Jones said.
Assistant County Administrator for Planning and Development, Ron Pianta, said there are no ordinances governing the size of the property or size of the aircraft in the county’s provision.
“The actual permitting process is governed by the FAA and the State of Florida,” Pianta said.
Department Planner Omar De Pablo said a larger strip would likely require a larger airstrip by the aviation authority.
“I want to make something clear – this is not an allowable use. It’s a special exception permit,” Pianta said. “Special exception is the only allowable subject to certain new criteria, public hearing, approval by this board.”
Jones said he carries $1 million in liability insurance.
There were two letters of objection to Jones’ private airstrip, and one of the authors, Marilyn Henley, was present at the planning and zoning hearing Monday morning.
“My main concern is, with animals you just never know,” Henley said, adding that she bought her property to raise horses and spend time with grandchildren. “I just don’t feel that this would be safe.”
Jones said if animals need desensitizing to the aircraft, they are “more than willing to work with them.”
“I can appreciate fearing the unknown,” Jones said. “But I will be maintaining cattle and a horse on the land, myself.”
Jones said he has more than 4,000 hours as an aviator. The commission asked Jones what his vertical clearance over Mondon Hill Road would be, and Jones said while that is a question for the FAA, if he had to guess, it probably would be between 350-400 feet.
Jones also said the private airstrip would not impede development on the surrounding properties, since the code requires buildings not to exceed 40 feet, and the power lines stand at 47 feet. Jones also said he may have a visitor that he would give permission to use the private strip.
The planning and zoning commission voted unanimously to approve the special use permit airstrip.
“Good luck,” said Ronald Caldi. “Safe flying.”
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