Kissimmee AO: Airport Operations District Guide
The AO: Airport Operations District is a specialized non-residential zone designed to facilitate land uses within the Kissimmee Municipal Airport tract that directly support aircraft operations. Development within the City of Kissimmee AO district requires a minimum lot size of 30,000 square feet and must comply with the specific height and safety requirements of the Kissimmee Airport Master Plan and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) [Section 14-4-4.O].
Purpose and Intent
The primary intent of the City of Kissimmee AO: Airport Operations District is to reserve space for activities essential to the function of the Kissimmee Municipal Airport. This includes aircraft operations and the direct support services required for those operations. The City of Kissimmee mandates that all development within this district must conform to the Kissimmee Airport Master Plan as well as specific airport hazard regulations outlined in the municipal code [Section 14-4-4.O].
Permitted and Conditional Land Uses
Land uses in the AO: Airport Operations District are categorized as permitted by right (P) or as conditional uses (C) that require specific review. If a proposed use is not listed in the municipal schedule of uses, it is prohibited within the City of Kissimmee [Section 14-4-5].
Aviation and Support Uses
- Airport-Dependent Uses (P): Uses requiring access to runways or hangars, such as flight schools, aircraft fuel sales, and aircraft repair [Section 14-2, Table 4-2].
- Airport-Related Uses (P): Uses typically located near airports, including air museums and aeronautical training [Section 14-2, Table 4-2].
- Heliports (C): Subject to specific landing area documents and FAA/FDOT licensing [Section 14-6-6, Table 4-2].
- Medical and Law Enforcement Heliports (P): Permitted for public safety and emergency services [Table 4-2].
Commercial and Service Uses
- Permitted by Right (P): Restaurants, retail sales establishments, microbreweries, office establishments, communication service establishments, business services, and personal services [Table 4-2].
- Conditional Uses (C): Drive-through facilities (as an accessory to an allowed use), child care facilities, gasoline service stations, parking garages, surface parking lots, and light/heavy repair service establishments [Table 4-2].
Industrial and Utility Uses
- Utility Facilities, Minor (P): Includes sewer lift stations and telephone switching boxes [Section 14-6-46, Table 4-2].
- Utility Facilities, Major (C): Includes electric substations and wastewater treatment plants [Table 4-2].
- Communication Towers and Facilities (C): Subject to separation requirements and airport director review [Table 4-2].
- Heavy Commercial Storage: The AO: Airport Operations District is one of the few zones in the City of Kissimmee where the parking and storage of heavy commercial vehicles and construction equipment over 6,000 pounds is permitted [Section 14-6-10.C].
Dimensional and Site Development Standards
Development in the AO: Airport Operations District must adhere to specific site geometry and intensity limits to maintain airport safety and operational efficiency.
| Standard | AO: Airport Operations District Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Lot Area | 30,000 square feet |
| Minimum Lot Width | 100 feet |
| Minimum Lot Depth | 200 feet |
| Max. Impervious Surface Area | 85% |
| Minimum Front Setback | 25 feet |
| Minimum Side Setback | 10 feet |
| Minimum Rear Setback | 15 feet (if adjacent to IN, AE, or UT) / 25 feet (all others) |
| Max. Structure Height | Regulated by Chapter 8 (Aviation) and FAA |
| Min. Parking Space Setback | 7 feet (or width of landscape strip, whichever is greater) |
[Table 4-5, Section 14-4-6]
District Character and Regulations
The general character of the AO: Airport Operations District is industrial and functional, focused on the safety and logistical needs of the Kissimmee Municipal Airport.
Aviation Signage Standards
Signs in the AO: Airport Operations District are subject to review by the airport director to ensure they do not interfere with navigation.
- Wall Signs: These may face a runway or taxiway, but a building may not have such signs on more than two sides.
- Allocation: Each ground floor establishment is allowed up to two wall signs.
- Copy Area: The combined copy area cannot exceed one foot per linear foot of building frontage.
- Illumination: Lighting must be designed and shielded to prevent glare or direct light from hitting any adjacent runway or taxiway [Section 14-11-7.A].
Safety and Hazards
Due to its proximity to flight paths, the AO: Airport Operations District must strictly adhere to City of Kissimmee and FAA rules regarding structure heights and hazard mitigation [Section 14-4-4.O]. Additionally, while heavy industrial uses like the manufacturing of explosives are generally prohibited, certain materials that decompose by detonation may be allowed as a conditional use in limited quantities under strict fire code supervision [Section 14-6-53].
Sections Cited
- Section 14-2: Terms Defined
- Section 14-4-4: Standard Zoning Districts—Intent
- Section 14-4-5: Schedule of Uses for Standard Zoning Districts
- Section 14-4-6: Regulations for Zoning Districts
- Section 14-6-6: Heliports
- Section 14-6-10: Outdoor Display and Storage of Vehicles
- Section 14-6-46: Utility Facilities, Minor
- Section 14-6-53: Fire and Explosion Hazards
- Section 14-11-7: Special District/Use Signs
- Table 4-2: Schedule of Uses for Non-Residential Standard Districts
- Table 4-5: Site Standards - Non-Residential Districts