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.

FMI: www.broward.org/airport/