May 17--Orlando International Airport is expected to lay the groundwork today for development that could one day link the airport to the University of Central Florida medical school planned for nearby Lake Nona.
Airport leaders see the medical school's appeal to research firms and other commercial ventures as a way to make money from undeveloped airport land that backs up to Lake Nona, the upscale golf-course community that is donating property for the campus.
The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority is scheduled to vote on changes to a land agreement between Lake Nona Corp. and the airport in which the agency formally approves of the developer's plans for the medical campus, a potential VA hospital, and commercial and residential development.
In many ways, the approval is a formality, required because the airport and Lake Nona are neighbors with the right to review each other's long-term plans.
It's also the next step for a partnership that could lead to more roads and other infrastructure connecting the medical complex with the airport.
Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty said the move represents progress for Innovation Way, the high-tech corridor he envisions linking the University of Central Florida's main campus with the airport.
"The good thing about Innovation Way is there're no boundaries," said Crotty, who also serves on the airport authority. "Generally speaking, the airport is the southern anchor, and if there's a medical village right adjacent to the airport, that seems like a great fit."
Crotty added, however, that he would want commercial and research businesses on airport property to maintain an aviation focus, citing as an example the training facility that JetBlue Airways opened last summer.
Such development would also further airport leaders' desire to generate more revenue from nontraditional sources, such as land or building leases, as the airline industry continues to wrestle with financial problems.
Rasesh Thakkar, chief executive officer of Tavistock Group Inc., Lake Nona's developer, considers the revised agreement between his company and the airport a "housekeeping" matter required by land exchanges between the airport and Tavistock.
He said he expects the first building in the medical complex -- UCF's Burnett College of Biomedical Sciences -- to break ground early next year.
About three years ago, the airport opened its fourth runway built on land purchased from Tavistock. Some of the land also was used as a contribution to a conservation program because the runway construction destroyed some environmentally important wetlands.
According to an airport memorandum, part of the agreement up for consideration today could benefit the airport by as much as $4 million to $6 million because it would be able to alter the way it handles certain environmental obligations, such as paying to relocate gopher tortoises.
The document also outlines plans for Lake Nona and the airport to extend a road south of Mud Lake from Boggy Creek Road on the west to Lake Nona Boulevard on the east.
In a separate issue, the airport authority is to decide whether to pledge more than $1.1 million to widen South Narcoossee Road -- another connector between the airport and the Lake Nona area.
The authority already agreed in February to spend $850,000 widening the road from State Road 417 south to the Osceola County line.
But the widening project has been increased from four to six lanes, so the airport is considering whether to contribute another $319,907.
Beth Kassab can be reached at 407-420-5448or [email protected].
