Air parks and gliders

[Bob Youngblood]

I have been reading some of the comments made on another thread and thought that it would be best discussed as a specific topic.
Over thirty years ago my wife and I moved from Miami to Vero Beach. We immediately started flying off our own strip with the help of a fellow resident who supplied the tow plane. Each property owner had an equal vote on the airport operation and there were no property owners who were not aviation oriented. As time went on there was never a problem with flying gliders at FD25. As time has evolved there are non aviation oriented property owners who now have homes on the strip. Each time when a new homeowner arrives we have a discussion and present the new owners with a copy of the bylaws and inform them of the main purpose of the community. As to date we have had no problem, nor do we expect one. I do know of a fellow airstrip owner that spent more than 30K protecting his strip from legal challenges brought about by some surrounding propert owner who opposed him of using his own property for a legal airstrip.
Currently we operate our club, the Treasure Coast Soaring Club from a public use privately owned strip. Development is growing rapidly within 1/2 mile from our strip, we have had no problems yet, I guess the day will come when complaints come from some unhappy resident.

[John Dezzutti[_4_]]

At 03:02 30 August 2018, Bob Youngblood wrote:
>I have been reading some of the comments made on another
thread and
>thought=
> that it would be best discussed as a specific topic.
>Over thirty years ago my wife and I moved from Miami to Vero
Beach. We
>imme=
>diately started flying off our own strip with the help of a fellow
>resident=
> who supplied the tow plane. Each property owner had an equal
vote on the
>a=
>irport operation and there were no property owners who were
not aviation
>or=
>iented. As time went on there was never a problem with flying
gliders at
>FD=
>25. As time has evolved there are non aviation oriented property
owners
>who=
> now have homes on the strip. Each time when a new
homeowner arrives we
>hav=
>e a discussion and present the new owners with a copy of the
bylaws and
>inf=
>orm them of the main purpose of the community. As to date we
have had no
>pr=
>oblem, nor do we expect one. I do know of a fellow airstrip
owner that
>spen=
>t more than 30K protecting his strip from legal challenges
brought about
>by=
> some surrounding propert owner who opposed him of using his
own property
>f=
>or a legal airstrip.=20
>Currently we operate our club, the Treasure Coast Soaring Club
from a
>publi=
>c use privately owned strip. Development is growing rapidly
within 1/2
>mile=
> from our strip, we have had no problems yet, I guess the day
will come
>whe=
>n complaints come from some unhappy resident.
>
New Hibiscus Airport replaced Hibiscus Airport (from which I first
soloed 53 years ago) which is now full of houses.

[Retting]

At Willis Gliderport (FA44) , bylaws were put in place that homes/lots could only be sold to a ...current licensed pilot with a current medical. And all runway taxiway issues requiring a vote can only be voted by lots having a pilot owner (some of our lots have divorcée, widows). This was done after learning other private airports nearby were being taken over by non-aviators.
As far as concerns with development near FA44, Florida Real Estate Laws stipulates that buyers be informed of airports within ‘noise’ range and buyers sign an acknowledgment to such. We have had a few filed noise complaints, mainly against those practicing aerobatics. But after meeting with the complaintee educating them, things settle down. It has been a long time since we got any complaints. FA44 is a quiet little use airpark.
The county position is this is a civil matter and they have no jurisdiction.. Civil litigation against airparks is difficult as both State and Federal laws protect airports.
R

[Bob Youngblood]

On Thursday, August 30, 2018 at 7:15:06 AM UTC-4, John Dezzutti wrote:
> At 03:02 30 August 2018, Bob Youngblood wrote:
> >I have been reading some of the comments made on another
> thread and
> >thought=
> > that it would be best discussed as a specific topic.
> >Over thirty years ago my wife and I moved from Miami to Vero
> Beach. We
> >imme=
> >diately started flying off our own strip with the help of a fellow
> >resident=
> > who supplied the tow plane. Each property owner had an equal
> vote on the
> >a=
> >irport operation and there were no property owners who were
> not aviation
> >or=
> >iented. As time went on there was never a problem with flying
> gliders at
> >FD=
> >25. As time has evolved there are non aviation oriented property
> owners
> >who=
> > now have homes on the strip. Each time when a new
> homeowner arrives we
> >hav=
> >e a discussion and present the new owners with a copy of the
> bylaws and
> >inf=
> >orm them of the main purpose of the community. As to date we
> have had no
> >pr=
> >oblem, nor do we expect one. I do know of a fellow airstrip
> owner that
> >spen=
> >t more than 30K protecting his strip from legal challenges
> brought about
> >by=
> > some surrounding propert owner who opposed him of using his
> own property
> >f=
> >or a legal airstrip.=20
> >Currently we operate our club, the Treasure Coast Soaring Club
> from a
> >publi=
> >c use privately owned strip. Development is growing rapidly
> within 1/2
> >mile=
> > from our strip, we have had no problems yet, I guess the day
> will come
> >whe=
> >n complaints come from some unhappy resident.
> >
> New Hibiscus Airport replaced Hibiscus Airport (from which I first
> soloed 53 years ago) which is now full of houses.

John, TCSC started flying here at the New Hibiscus about two years ago, I have flown off the new strip since 1988 and we have our glider club in the old hangar that was moved to the new strip from the old strip. I knew your dad, I think he had a LS1 at the time, I could be mistaken. Our club is doing well, gaining membership almost every week. We are starting on a new towplane project just next week. Bob