Billionaire Ken Griffin wants to land helicopters at his private megayacht marina on Terminal Island, and Miami Beach will decide whether to rewrite its zoning code to make that possible.

Griffin, the Citadel founder who relocated his hedge fund's headquarters from Chicago to Miami in 2022, had Commissioner Joseph Magazine sponsor a request on Wednesday, June 24, to add a waterfront helipad to his 3.5-acre marina compound along the MacArthur Causeway. The site sits near Griffin's Star Island home.

The catch: Miami Beach zoning doesn't allow private helipads on Terminal Island. Approval would require the city to amend its land development regulations to permit helipads as an accessory use within the industrial zoning district there.

Miami Beach spokeswoman Melissa Berthier said the request will likely be heard by the Land Use and Sustainability Committee at its Wednesday, Sept. 16, meeting.

The proposed amendment is narrowly written. It would apply only to Terminal Island's industrial zone, not citywide. City planners are drafting operational restrictions covering flight operations and compatibility with surrounding properties.

The private marina already has city approval

The Miami Beach Planning Board unanimously approved Griffin's private marina in November 2025. The facility, designed by BMA Architects, includes eight megayacht slips, an owner's pavilion, a crew pavilion, maintenance facilities, security offices and a rooftop swimming pool. Griffin agreed to berth no more than four vessels at a time.

The marina will house Griffin's 308-foot yacht Defy, which he purchased for about $175 million in 2024.

His attorney, Neisen Kasdin, a former Miami Beach mayor, told the Planning Board the marina is "almost an extension of his residence where his larger boats can be berthed."

Terminal Island's industrial neighbors, but noise concerns remain

Terminal Island faces Fisher Island and houses a Florida Power & Light plant, a city maintenance yard, car ferry terminals and the U.S. Coast Guard Station. Unlike many waterfront projects that draw neighborhood opposition, the site is industrially zoned rather than residential.

Still, helicopter operations raise questions about noise, flight paths and frequency of use. Griffin's spokesman David Millar declined to comment on the request and did not say whether Griffin owns a helicopter. Commissioner Magazine did not respond to requests for comment, according to the Miami Herald.

Miami-Dade County has roughly 40 helipads, many at hospitals.

Committee vote set for September, with state and federal approvals still needed

Berthier said the Land Use and Sustainability Committee will likely take up the helipad request at its Wednesday, Sept. 16, meeting. A full commission vote date has not been set. Even with city approval, Griffin would still need authorization from the Florida Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. Residents can follow the item through the city's Planning Board agenda.