Among the goals set by Rick Piccolo, the President and CEO of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, before his retirement in 2025, is to secure an independent permitting process for capital projects. This goal is crucial as the airport's growth demands efficient infrastructure development. Piccolo's appearance before the Sarasota County Legislative Delegation shed light on the challenges faced due to the airport's location in three jurisdictions.

Understanding the Permitting Conundrum

As one enters the airport parking lot, they are in Sarasota City. Crossing the street into the terminal brings them into Sarasota County, and moving down the concourse leads to Manatee County. Even during takeoff from one end of the runway, one is in Sarasota County, while at the other end, it's Manatee County. This complex jurisdictional setup posed significant problems when the airport was not growing much. However, with the current rapid growth, it has become a major hurdle. Piccolo explained that the lack of cooperation is not the issue; it's the need to navigate multiple permitting processes. 1: The airport is constantly building infrastructure to meet its growth needs. But dealing with permitting that involves multiple jurisdictions slows down the process. Piccolo is seeking a status similar to school systems, where they can permit their own capital projects while adhering to Florida building and fire codes. This would allow the airport to handle projects in-house and move them forward quickly. 2: Piccolo was asked about his discussions with local government executives. Marlon (Brown) recently retired, but the other executives at the executive level did not see an issue as they are already busy with their own permitting tasks. The airport still has to comply with federal and state codes and is heavily regulated.

The Role of Representative Fiona McFarland

Representative Fiona McFarland, who is the chair of the delegation for the coming legislative year, took it upon herself to sponsor the airport's bill. This could bring relief in 2025. McFarland emphasized the need to address the problem. She said, "You can't build half a baggage claim and then wait for the other half because of the permitting schedule. We need to move forward with this as a local bill." After seeing no dissent, the bill will be introduced in the upcoming legislative session. 1: The delegation recognized the urgency of the situation. They understand that timely permitting is essential for the airport's growth. McFarland's leadership in sponsoring the bill shows the commitment to finding a solution. 2: With the bill set to be introduced, there is hope that the airport will be able to streamline its permitting process and build the necessary infrastructure to serve the community better. This is a significant step towards addressing the challenges faced by Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.