"Southern runway or else, Fort Lauderdale leaders say"

Wednesday, September 3, 2003

Southern runway or else, Lauderdale leaders say
BY SONJI JACOBS
The Miami (FL) Herald


Fort Lauderdale city leaders are threatening to use their administrative
muscle to force construction of the controversial 9,000-foot south runway at
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

They say if Broward County officials change their minds -- as it appears
they might -- the city will revoke agreements allowing other airport
construction to continue. City and county officials will square off on the
issue at a public hearing today at Fort Lauderdale City Hall.

City leaders say that if the county veers off its plan to extend the south
runway across U.S. 1, it would be in violation of a complex 1997 agreement
with the city.

In that case, the city could go to court to stop ongoing construction, wrote
City Attorney Harry Stewart, in an Aug. 4, 2003, letter to the county
aviation department.

A new nine-story garage with rental car facilities is taking shape at the
airport now, and is scheduled for completion in December 2004.

The county's legal experts say that they are in complete compliance with the
development order, because commissioners haven't taken any action on the
runway issue.

''We're not there yet,'' Broward County Attorney Ed Dion said.

``The board has never voted to recede from the 9,000-foot southern runway.''

But in March, while moving forward with a required environmental study for
the south runway, commissioners voted to consider other, less costly
alternatives. They hired a consultant, Leigh Fisher Associates, whose formal
report is due later this month.

''We'll address that matter if and when the board does that action. Until
they do, it's just speculative,'' Dion said.

The expansion of the south runway has been an especially controversial part
of an estimated $1 billion airport expansion and renovation project. So far,
the county has poured about $655 million into improvements, such as a
4,900-space parking garage, a tropical-themed terminal, major renovations of
the existing terminals, and a new airport entrance.

Many Fort Lauderdale leaders and residents are unhappy with suggestions that
will be part of the consultant's report, including a less-ambitious
extension of the south runway, and a new diagonal runway. They fear either
of those plans would increase noise and reduce property values in Riverland
and Melrose Park, two neighborhoods recently annexed by the city.

But Hollywood and Dania Beach residents have long opposed the south runway
plan, for the same reasons.

''We have an agreement with the county,'' Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle
said. ``We're looking to make sure they enforce it. We just want them to
perform their obligations.''

He added: ``We want Hollywood to share in the burden. It's a fairness issue.
We're going to be very protective of our citizens.''


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