Commissioners Continue To Talk Of Lawsuit Against Agency

The stage has been set in Stuart, FL for a showdown between Martin County commissioners, who want to shorten runway 12-30 at Witham Field (SUA), and the Federal Aviation Administration, which is blocking the change.

At issue is homes located in what should be a runway protection zone (RPZ). As ANN reported last November, commissioners voted to shorten the runway by 460 feet, to 5,366 feet total, to address the problem.

The FAA -- having spent $7 million already to acquire 23 homes, and with plans to buy out another 24 homeowners north of the runway -- is not amused. The FAA grants have included language which precludes the county from changes which would reduce the airport's utility.

In a letter released Wednesday and quoted by the Stuart Times, FAA Airports Division Manager Robert Chapman called the county’s proposal to shorten the runway "not acceptable to the FAA." He points out the ongoing plan to buy homes in the disputed area, and notes, "This leaves, by our count, just a few homes remaining to be acquired to clear the departure RPZs of all homes. Acquiring these few remaining homes would achieve the county’s goals of removing all homes from the airport departure RPZs."

Self-described airport "watchdog" David Shore is urging the commission to file a lawsuit against the FAA. At least one commissioner has proposed the same course, and the full commission is scheduled to consider the idea in February.

David Smith, the general manager of Galaxy Aviation, an FBO located on the airport, calls that course futile. "If you read the grant assurances, it’s very clear in the law that they would lose the lawsuit and that would just cost the taxpayers even more money," he said.

County officials attempted to close Witham outright in 2003, and were met with strong resistance from such organizations as AOPA and NATA... and, from local residents, who voted down three candidates who supported the closure in local elections in 2004.

FMI: www.faa.gov, Martin County's Witham Field Site