City Throws Monkey Wrench at County

On Wednesday night, the Ft Lauderdale (FL) City Commission voted 4-1 to stop the previously-approved expansion of the airport.

As a result, planned extension of the runway, as well as ongoing gate and parking construction, are all on hold.

Broward County says the City has no right to take this action, so the whole mess will go to court, costing taxpayers more money, and delaying projects that had already gotten approval -- projects that will affect the convenience and ultimately the safety of the airport.

The South Florida Sun-Sentinel explains part of the mess: "The County Commission has never voted to eliminate the 9,000-foot south runway from its plans. Instead, it voted in March to open the possibility for other options, while moving ahead with plans for the runway at the same time." The city doesn't want the runway to go ahead.

Nearby NIMBYS are complaining that the mosquito habitat near the constriction site would be damaged by making the runway safer, and that the added noise would be just enough to "harm neighborhoods" that presumably aren't bothered now, according to the Sun-Sentinel.

FMI: www.fortlauderdaleinternationalairport.com