Actor, pilot John Travolta joins those opposing zoning changes at Florida private airport

A Florida airport where residents can taxi to a private runway from their estates is running into some turbulence.

And celebrity John Travolta, a longtime resident of Jumbolair, is wading into the controversy. Travolta owns a 6,600-square-foot home on 20 acres at Jumbolair, located in Ocala.

The world-famous actor is adding his voice with those who oppose rezoning land around Jumbolair that has been proposed by Jumbolair manager Robert Bull. If approved, the proposed zoning change would allow more residential and commercial/industrial development.

"Compared to the existing low-density neighborhoods surrounding the area, Bull’s proposals would irrevocably alter the complexion of north central Marion County from a quiet, rural farmland community to a bustling airfield surrounded by dense residential development and commercial development," according to a letter sent to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners on behalf of Travolta and several others.

Travolta is no stranger to controversy when it comes to his plane. While living in another private community near Daytona Beach in the 1990s, he clashed with the homeowner's association over the weight and noise of his plane.

Here's what we know about what's happening at Jumbolair.

What is Jumbolair?

Jumbolair Aviation and Equestrian Estates said on its website it has the largest, licensed, private runway in North America. The 7,550-foot asphalt runway is accessible to all estates via a taxiway.

Jumbolair is a private airport, and permission to land is required. All flying activities at the airport are regulated by the FAA. It was activated October 1980 and there is no control tower.

Jumbolair consists of 38 lots, with 23 still available, according to its website. The exclusive fly-in community is in a gated, deed-restricted community. Lots start at $500,000.

Winsome Blue Farm provides a contemporary equestrian facility with a 16-stall barn and another seven-stall private barn. It's accessible to residents of Jumbolair who want to keep their horses nearby.

What changes are being sought by Robert Bull?

According to a Feb. 9 memorandum sent to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners on the behalf of Travolta and others, zoning changes and land use changes are being sought by Robert Bull for Jumbolair Aviation Estates.

Changes being sought include:

• An amendment to the Large-Scale Future Land Use Map Series for 358 acres to increase the current maximum entitlements by 376 dwelling units and up to 1,318,996 square feet of commercial or industrial uses.

• Rezone 449 acres to construct up to 240 residential dwelling units and up to 469,649 square feet of commercial or industrial uses.

What are the objections to changes at Jumbolair?

The memorandum cites several objections to the changes proposed by Bull, including:

• Safety risks: The proposed development increases residential density and activities within the immediate vicinity of a large private runway. In fact, and as shown to the side, the development proposes a residential community center and homesites less than 400 feet from an existing active, private runway. The increased air traffic resulting from an additional 198 hangars and potential flight school escalates the chance of a collision and poses a blatant and inherent risk to the public’s health and safety.

• Noise and air pollution due to additional private air traffic.

• Property value decreases due to proximity to additional air traffic.

• Environmental and natural habitat impact due to increased air and vehicular traffic. "Bull’s insensitivity to the increase in air traffic has shown a complete disregard towards the equestrian community and the county’s reputation as a sanctuary for these creatures (horses). A significant increase in low-flying planes would severely disrupt the otherwise placid environment that these horses thrive in."

Bottom line: "Bull’s proposals demonstrate a blatant lack of interest in preserving the rural nature of the area and Jumbolair’s unique history," according to the memorandum.

Read letter from Travolta's attorneys objecting to developer's plans for Jumbolair

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Horse Farms Forever also opposes Jumbolair expansion

Horse Farms Forever said its "mission is to inspire conservation of horse farms through education, awareness and idea exchange so as to preserve natural pasture land focusing on horses and their habitats, to protect soil and water on which they depend, and minimize land use conflicts in Marion County."

The group posted on its website that the proposed changes would increase the number of dwelling from 94 to 240 and increase the number of hangars to nearly 250.

"The increase in flight operations from 300+ aircraft … will subject the surrounding rural landowners and horse farms to an invasion of noise that is unprecedented.

"With flight operations, the neighbors will be subjected to the equivalent of a never-ending air raid."

When will Marion County commissioners discuss the proposed changes at private airport?

The Marion County Commission is scheduled to discuss the plan at its Feb. 20 meeting.

The land-use changes were filed by multiple owners represented by Robert Bull on Feb. 8, asking for:

• 306 acres to be changed from rural to low residential

• 39 acres to be changed from low residential to medium residential

• 30 acres to be changed from rural to commercial.

Zoning changes requested by Bull in behalf of multiple owners included:

• General agriculture to residential agriculture estate.

• Community business and light industrial to planned unit development for residential development with up to 483 residential dwelling units and commercial uses on 468 acres.

On Jan. 7, Bull modified the request. The original request was for 446 dwelling units, 205 townhomes and 241 single-family homes. The request was changed to 240 single-family homes, and the townhomes were removed from the request.

What were Marion County, and Planning and Zoning commissioners' recommendations?

Staff recommended approval of the low residential land-use change and that the medium residential and commercial changes be denied. Planning and Zoning commissioners recommended the land use requests be denied.

There was no staff or Planning and Zoning recommendation on the zoning request since that's based on whether the land-use changes are made.

Letters filed with Marion County all opposed Jumbolair proposed changes

Travolta isn't the only one objecting to the changes proposed by Bull for Jumbolair.

Excerpts of letters sent to Marion County — all opposed to the proposed changes — included:

"Low flying planes and helicopters already create a log of noise, and a flight center would further interfere with the quiet enjoyment of the residents in the surrounding area."

"This development project entails exponentially greater use of petrols and other toxic contaminants that will leak into the soil … and our water."

"These planes already create a lot of NOISE, which disturbs horses and livestock. Equestrians are in peril when these planes fly over and "spook" their mounts."

"Somethings just should not be located next to each other. Jumbolair is not your typical airport. It is a preexisting non-conforming use. If the applicant applied today, it would not be allowed."

"It used to be a sleepy airfield — only John Travolta flew out and in every day. John knows his stuff and he has always operated in a very professional way. I never felt unsafe living around this airport until recently."

"The proposed rezoning and development of Jumbolair constitutes a threat to the very essence of our ways of life."

Where is Jumbolair?

Jumbolair is in Ocala in Marion County in Central Florida. The community is about 30 miles south of Gainesville. Daytona Beach is about 60 miles east, and Orlando is located about 60 miles southeast.

Travolta and Spruce Creek Fly-in controversy resolved in court

While a resident of the Spruce Creek Fly-in near Daytona Beach, in the late 1980s and into the mid-1990s, Travolta clashed with neighbors.

The disagreement originated with the Fly-In's homeowners association, which tried to ban Travolta's Gulfstream II jet. The association tried to argue the jet was too heavy and noisy for the community's runway.

Travolta won in court and continued flying his jet in and out of the Fly-In until he sold his home in 1994.

The courts sided with the movie star and said the association overstepped its authority by banning big planes without approval from general membership.

Jumbolair's connection to Vanderbilt

Jumbolair Aviation Estates was a location of a Vanderbilt family horse farm and African elephant refuge before it became a high-end residential community.

The Vanderbilt home was built in the late 1960s by Muriel Vanderbilt Adams, an American socialite and great-great-granddaughter of railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt.

Jumbolair was put on the market in 2019 for $10.5 million by Frank Merschman, who stopped selling aviation lots and ended the bed-and-breakfast and banquet services at the Vanderbilt mansion.

It sold for $9.5 million to a Melbourne limited liability company — Jumbolair Development, LLC. — in 2021. Documents on file with the Florida Division of Corporations state the managers are Robert Bull and Debra Bull of Melbourne.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: John Travolta, Jumbolair at odds over Florida development changes