Critics Cite Noise Problems
Opponents of the proposed expansion
of the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport rallied at a
public hearing Monday night. The group informed county officials
they refused to be forced from their homes by excessive noise
caused by large jets.
"I bought this house in the neighborhood many years ago when
propeller-driven planes primarily came across and they weren't very
bad," George Counts, a Lauderdale Isles resident, told South
Florida's Channel 4. "Then the jets came and it got noisier and
noisier."
"We certainly don't want any runways closer to our neighborhood
or flights directed over our neighborhood," Counts added... echoing
concerns expressed by residents near Palm Beach International Airport last
week, regarding a similar situation.
Consultants presented a report that pinpointed which
neighborhoods would be affected. They presented possible methods to
diminish noise levels for about 1,100 homeowners living west and
south of the airport, according to the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel.
(Editor's Note: Gregory Meyer, Public
Information Officer for the Broward County Aviation Department,
tells ANN the 1,100 homes figure is based on old traffic
projections... and per updated figures based on the FAA's terminal
area forecast for FLL, the actual number of affected homes is 107,
or about 299 people.)
The report also outlined possible alternative solutions, such as
a fee paid to homeowners by the airport for the 'right' to create
noise, and giving low-income residents of a nearby mobile home park
priority to move to a county-subsidized housing project.
Another plan involves the purchase of some of the homes closest
to the expansion area, but the source of the money to accomplish
that has not been identified. The cost of the project depends on
what methods are chosen, and could range from $8 million to $1.7
billion.
"One option needs to be to scrap the plan and find that it's not
economically feasible," said Davie Mayor Tom Truex, who said
residents cannot hold a backyard barbecue because of the existing
noise.
Melaleuca Gardens resident Brenda Lee Chalifour disagreed with
the consultants' idea of which neighborhoods would be affected,
"These maps don't reflect any kind of reality that I am familiar
with ...The moral of the story is we have a fight on our
hands."
Bertha Henry, Deputy Broward County Administrator, said she
understands the resident's objections, but county officials believe
the airport expansion is important to the county's future.
"It also has a very positive impact on the overall economics of
a community," she said.
Broward County has been looking at airport expansion for the
past 12 years. Proposals have included adding a second main runway
and lengthening one of the two existing runways. The current
favored option is adding nearly 3,000 feet to the east end of the
south runway, 9R-27L, by 2012.
County officials are hoping to vote on an expansion plan in
May.