Several more Ocala residents recently wrote in to share their thoughts on the topic of bringing commercial flights to Ocala International Airport.
“Isn’t our airport called Ocala International Airport? What is international about it? Is the name trying to make something out of it that it really is not? And does the airport truly serve the tax paying citizens of Ocala and Marion County, or is it a facility that in all honesty serves a few people and corporations who can afford private planes that are kept there? If the airport is indeed supported by our tax dollars, then make it a facility that serves us all, not just commerce, industrial, and corporate entities. Get us a commercial airline to claim it as a hub so we don’t pay taxes for the Ocala International Airport while we are forced to drive almost two hours to Orlando or Tampa to spend our dollars there. If tax payers are supporting it, then make it a facility we citizens can use,” says Bill Via, Ocala resident.
“Ocala has already exceeded much of its infrastructure with the number of homes and condos being built. Zoning has consistently granted zoning exceptions to the developers without much consideration for the increase in traffic and all of the things that come with population growth. Enlarging the airport to allow for more commercial flights is a good thing. Ocala has already crossed the line from being mainly agricultural to suburban in many areas. A larger airport with more commercial flights would only benefit the community, not hinder it. As the Horse Capital, Ocala’s breeders would also benefit from an airport that can accommodate air transport of horses. Keeping the horse community here and growing is crucial to what makes Ocala such an attractive place for so many people who want to live here. Progress is a good thing if handled properly,” says Ocala resident Joseph Alberti.
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