Palm Beach County commissioners voted unanimously to open up development opportunities at North County Airport to multiple developers and aviation companies, rather than negotiating exclusively with a single billionaire's proposal. The decision could set in motion some of the airport's biggest changes in decades, touching everything from new private jet facilities to emerging electric aircraft technology.
Jet Greene's Pitch Becomes a Starting Point, Not the Final Word
The vote came after Jet Greene LLC, a company owned by developer Jeff Greene, pitched a plan to purchase 131 acres of county-owned land near the airport, build a second private aviation facility, and help fund future airport improvements, according to WFLX. That proposal reportedly included a second private jet facility complete with hangars, fueling facilities, lounges and other aviation services, aimed at expanding airport operations, as WPTV reported. Commissioner Maria Marino made clear the county wasn't simply handing Greene the keys. “What Jet Green has brought to the table is a starting point,” she said, per the station's report.
Instead of negotiating exclusively with Jet Greene, commissioners directed staff to begin developing a competitive solicitation process that will let multiple developers and aviation companies submit their own visions for the airport's future, the outlet noted. Separate reporting from the South Florida Business Journal indicated the proposed deal could have involved the developer purchasing 131 acres from the county and leasing another 40, though the county's move to competitive bidding signals that framework is no longer locked in.
Sky Harbour and LuftCar Eye a Piece of F45
North County Airport, also known by its code F45, is located in Palm Beach County, and it's already drawing interest from companies beyond Jet Greene. Sky Harbour expressed interest in competing for future development opportunities at the airport, with Stephen Abrams speaking on the company's behalf before commissioners, the same report stated.
LuftCar, a company focused on advanced air mobility and infrastructure for electric aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, also appeared before the board. Representative Taniel Koushakjian said LuftCar welcomed a wide variety of proposals and argued that North County Airport's smaller size, compared with President Donald J. Trump International Airport, could position it as a possible testing ground for the technology. Koushakjian pointed to increasing congestion in the region's airspace as a reason to explore growth at the smaller field, suggesting improvements there could help ease pressure on Trump International by adding capacity for private aviation.
What LuftCar's Vision Would Actually Require
LuftCar's envisioned infrastructure would include energy systems, a platform, storage, a fueling area, and a dedicated vertical-takeoff-and-landing platform, according to the station's account. The broader category of advanced air mobility covers aircraft types including vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft designed for shorter-distance travel and improved accessibility, per the Florida Department of Transportation.
Florida isn't starting from zero on this front. Orlando International Airport is already preparing to develop a vertiport for future electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft, and the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority plans to issue an Invitation to Negotiate to find partners capable of building and operating it, according to a release from Orlando International Airport. The authority is targeting 2028 for an operational vertiport, and it hosted a Federal Aviation Administration-sponsored tabletop exercise on the topic in November 2024 — groundwork that gives a glimpse of how far behind, or ahead, Palm Beach County's own planning might be.
Officials Insist No Commercial Airline Service Is Coming
Airport officials were careful to draw a line around what this expansion is not. They said the airport is not being expanded to attract commercial airline service, framing the planning instead around avoiding future congestion and accommodating continued growth in private and general aviation.
Not everyone nearby is reassured. Roberta Sorensen, who lives near the airport and under part of its flight path, said aircraft noise isn't actually her biggest worry. “Much more worried about the road. The traffic is really bad,” she said. Sorensen said she hopes residents remain part of the planning conversation going forward, adding that “maybe the neighbors should be consulted.”
