Broward County urges noise options for homes near new Fort Lauderdale runway: County states terms for FAA

Nov. 7--Residents near a new runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport should get the choice to have their homes soundproofed or bought at market value, county commissioners decided Tuesday.

The commissioners spelled out steps to offset additional noise that they want the Federal Aviation Administration to accept as part of planning the runway. They asked the FAA to help more homeowners than they have elsewhere, even though they question whether the agency will agree.

For some in nearby communities, though, the county is not going far enough.

"No amount of mitigation will be adequate to compensate for the destruction of these homes and dock space, but I understand you are caught up in feeding this economic engine," said Linda Sacco, a resident of the Davis Isles neighborhood in Dania Beach.

The FAA is in the final stages of reviewing the runway plans and is expected to decide whether to proceed with construction early next year. The county wants to lengthen the commuter runway on the airport's southern side to handle additional traffic expected over the next two decades.

More than 11,000 people live in neighborhoods just west and south of the airport and will face noise two to three times more than that of a typical suburb once commercial jetliners begin landing and taking off on the new runway.

The county's plan would cost at least $200 million and would get significantly more expensive if officials go as far as they want in Tuesday's request to the FAA. The help would be paid for through fees charged to airline passengers as well as state and federal grants.

"We kind of owe it to these people to let them know what their destiny is," said Commissioner John Rodstrom, who represents much of the surrounding area.

In a letter being sent to the FAA, the county wants the agency to specify the steps that will be taken to help surrounding residents. The steps that the county proposes are:

-- Buying out mobile home parks in the areas with the greatest noise.

-- Offering to soundproof homes and pay owners for the loss of quiet outside.

-- Buying homes of anyone who doesn't want to take the soundproofing option.

-- Acquiring vacant land that is zoned for residential use.

-- Offering the assistance to entire neighborhoods rather than only those homes in high-noise zones.

According to past county studies, more than 5,000 residents live in the areas normally targeted for assistance. Another 6,000 face the prospect of more noise, but traditionally would not be helped because the noise would not be great enough to meet federal regulations for airport-financed aid.

The two prime areas affected are homes just north of Griffin Road between U.S. 441 and Interstate 95 and those just south of Griffin Road between I-95 and Federal Highway.

Aviation consultants estimated mitigating the noise would cost $200 million based on current federal standards and if two-thirds of homeowners chose to have the county soundproof their homes rather than buy them out. Estimates put the cost as high as $700 million if the area helped were expanded as the county has suggested.

The county wants the FAA to agree to the noise assistance up front because commissioners promised the program to residents when they approved the runway earlier this year. Also, the county would have to come up with the money to pay for any help that the FAA does not approve.

Scott Wyman can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4511.

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