Submitted By: Matthew Grow
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Presentation By: Matthew Grow
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Department: Aviation
FORMAL TITLE:
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Airport Development Inquiry Form, revised Airport Leasing and Property Development Policy, revised Airport Development Standards, and Airport Properties Website
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Operational Excellence, Fiscally Sustainable
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
Over the past decade, the City of Ocala has made significant strides to position Ocala International Airport (OCF) as both an economic driver and a development-ready property. The City has invested heavily in airfield infrastructure, capital improvement projects, and aviation facilities. This includes apron rehabilitation, taxiway and terminal upgrades, and partnerships with companies such as Sheltair Aviation, focusing on their hangar development efforts and occupancy in the general aviation terminal. Concurrently, Ocala has worked to activate its non-aviation parcels - over 400 acres of industrial/commercial land - through proactive marketing and the sale or lease of surplus property. These efforts include a pre-COVID era contract with the brokerage firm CBRE that yielded no closings, along with various sustained efforts to attract private-sector development consistent with the airport’s long-term master plan.
Historically, the City’s method of soliciting private investment at the airport relied on the traditional Request for Proposal (RFP) or Invitation to Negotiate (ITN) process. While thorough and transparent, these competitive procurement procedures often require extensive review, public advertisement, and multi-layered approvals - a sequence that can extend the timeline for new development to well over a year, particularly when Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approvals are involved.
Recognizing the need to streamline and modernize this process, the City has undertaken a comprehensive update of its Airport Leasing Policy, Development Standards, and Development Inquiry Form. Together, these new documents create a standardized, transparent pathway for both aviation and non-aviation developers to engage directly with airport staff, submit proposals, and move efficiently through evaluation, negotiation, and approval. The revised policy outlines defined timelines for staff review and City Council consideration. At the same time, the new ARC GIS-based interactive property map - soon featured on the airport’s website - will allow prospective developers to visually explore available parcels, zoning, and infrastructure data in real time.
These improvements are expected to significantly shorten the development cycle, providing a faster, more predictable route from inquiry to agreement, without compromising regulatory compliance or public accountability. By aligning the leasing framework, development standards, and digital marketing tools, the City of Ocala has created a cohesive system that both accelerates private investment and safeguards the long-term integrity of airport property development.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
• The Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Invitations to Negotiate (ITNs) are lengthy and cumbersome processes.
• The Airport has underutilized Non-Aviation assets.
• There remains a need for transparency and consistency.
• Developers expressed the need for predictable processes that would minimize delays while maintaining fairness, compliance, and alignment with the Airport Master Plan.
• Policy modernization will accelerate development.
• Enhanced ARC-GIS tools improve accessibility and marketing.
• Streamlined review process reduces delays.
• Balanced growth and oversight.
• The new system preserves essential public accountability, FAA compliance, and City Council oversight while introducing the flexibility needed to respond promptly to legitimate development inquiries.
• The Airport Advisory Board is currently reviewing the Policy and Standards.
• Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
These documents were reviewed and shown to be in compliance with the City’s procurement policy.
LEGAL REVIEW:
These documents have been reviewed and approved for form and legality by City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny