The Venice Comprehensive Plan was previously submitted to the State of Florida and the elements of the Transportation Section regarding the Venice Airport were acceptable to the State.  The plan was returned to the City for changes or corrections, none pertaining to the Airport.  

The new City Council made major changes to the plan with respect to aviation and the Airport.  These changes are not in the best interest of the City, reflect questionable planning, ignore the City's responsibilities and appear to be contrary to State Guidelines.  Furthermore, these latest changes to the Comprehensive Plan create a platform for future attacks on the airport, increased airport related civic discord and future additional conflicts with the Federal Aviation Administration.    

The Airport is important to the City at large and the Plan should reflect that fact and seek to maximize its benefits. The City has irrevocable responsibilities to the Airport based on the original deeds of transfer of the Airport to the City.  The Comprehensive Plan should reflect an understanding of these responsibilities and show how the City intends to meet those obligations in the best interest of the City and all its citizens.  Consciously attempting to evade these responsibilities by way of the Comprehensive Plan is poor public policy. The Plan should also offer reasonable measures to reduce the Airport's affect on surrounding neighborhoods without negatively impacting Airport operations or holding out unachievable and unrealistic expectations to nearby neighborhoods and airport critics.

The Airport was deeded to the city with the explicit proviso that it would operate without discrimination as a public airport open to all users.   The airport is not like a local zoning or development issue as Federal requirements and impacts must be considered.  The Comprehensive Plan is ideally suited to offer an outline of how the City intends to accomplish these requirements and also address other related airport interest.  The Airport Master Plan then would provide more specific measures to implement these plans (consistent with FAA regulations and the City's deed assurances).   

VASI did an extensive review of what the City now intends to send to the State and developed a series of recommendations that would better address the Airport.  Read the comments and let us know what you think.  

Download the Recommendations Document