Purchase of Homes at Witham Field Airport Advances

Purchase of Homes at Airport Advances
Palm Beach Post, FL

Wednesday, February 25, 2004


STUART -- Martin County commissioners decided by the
narrowest margin Tuesday to try to get federal money
to buy homes most affected by noisy jets using Witham
Field's main runway.

The commission authorized Airport Director Mike Moon
to apply for a $2 million grant from the Federal
Aviation Administration. The money will be used to
purchase and insulate homes spread over six streets
located at both ends of Runway 12/30. County officials
stressed the buyout program would be voluntary.

But federal grants repeatedly have been a sore spot
for airport watchdogs and County Commissioner Susan
Valliere, and Tuesday's approval drew even more
criticism.

They say the county is required to give up control of
expansion projects and operations at the airport to
the FAA if it accepts the grant money.

They are requirements the county commission told Moon
they would like to see waived. But ultimately,
Commissioners Michael DiTerlizzi, Doug Smith and Lee
Weberman said the federal money might be the only way
to pay for the buyout plan.

"I cannot sit here with a good, clear conscious and
deny this process," Commission Chairman Doug Smith
said.

Neither could Weberman, who said he was confident that
FAA officials would protect Martin residents.

"I believe the FAA is there to protect the people, not
hurt people," he said.

Last week the county released a list of 29 homes near
18th Street and in the Willoughby Creek neighborhood
that are eligible for the buyout program. They are
areas where noise from airport traffic reaches levels
of 65 decibels or higher. At that noise level, the
planes drown out conversations inside the home.

It's a noise problem that many residents living in
those neighborhoods say commissioners and county
officials have ignored for several years. Most
residents at Tuesday's meeting weren't happy with the
county's plan, but said it's really their only option.


"Honestly, the only thing that I'm hearing today, is
that you want us to go away," said Dan Fogt, whose
home on Old St. Lucie Boulevard is on the county's
buyout list. "I call Stuart my home, but it doesn't
sound like anything is going to work out so we can
stay here."

Resident Lynne Pine said fumes from jet traffic and
fuel in her 18th Street neighborhood are becoming
increasingly worse. It's a problem she's repeatedly
complained about. 

As proof, she flashed commissioners a sign saying, "Do
not inhale." It was used in a demonstration on
Monterey Road more than three years ago, she told the
board.

"This is not new," she said. "I have appeared before
this board, written letters, presented documents, and
yet here I am again still asking that something be
done."

Many residents accused the commission of allowing
airport business to "take over" their neighborhoods.

"It's incredible to think the airport is going to take
over this community for the benefit of a few
businesses on this airport," Fogt said. "They are
allowed to create noise that no one else can create. I
can't start my boat engine at 4 o'clock in the
morning."

Commissioner Sarah Heard, who along with Valliere
opposed the grant application, said it should be those
businesses and the people who use their airport that
pay for the home purchases.

"I certainly am very empathetic to the people
particularly on Lynne Pine's street," she said. "I
don't think we have the correct solution to the
problem. I think the very easy solution is to go to
the big-bucks federal government. 

"I think we need to find these funds locally," she
continued. "I think we have to look at some way to
raise funds on the airport."

Moon estimated the county would have to charge every
aircraft that lands at Witham Field a $30 fee in order
to raise enough money to pay for the program.

The other option, he said, would be to impose an 80
cents per gallon tax on fuel sold on airport grounds.

Valliere warned that by purchasing a few properties,
the county could be forced to purchase other nearby
homes.

"Buying out a few of those properties is going to
expose Martin County to a buyout program that is going
to be endless," she said. "The residents aren't the
problem. The problem is the jets."

Meanwhile, the commission Tuesday voted 3-2, with
Heard and Valliere dissenting, to accept two other
federal grants. They total about $1.3 million and will
be used for security and taxiway improvements.

If the FAA awards the money for the buyouts, the
commission will be required to vote on whether to
accept it.

The county also is working on a plan to decide which
homes will be purchased first.

The plan must be approved by the county's airport
noise advisory committee and the county commission.


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