"Seminar tackles Fort Lauderdale airport plans"

Friday, July 23, 2004

Seminar tackles airport plans
Discussion about Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport's
expansion is the focus of several meetings
The Miami (FL) Herald


If residents skeptical about Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International
Airport's south runway expansion could meet regularly with government
and aviation officials, there might be a better understanding of why the
airport needs to accommodate passenger growth.

That advice, offered by the leader of a national airport noise
organization, came during a Thursday conference in Dania Beach that
attracted airport and government representatives from across the
country.

The 2004 NOISE summer conference is in town because of the debate
surrounding Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood's expansion. The National
Organization to Insure a Sound-controlled Environment, or NOISE, is
based in Washington, D.C., and lobbies for cities that don't have direct
control over airport issues but are nonetheless affected by them.

About 70 people are attending the conference, which concludes today.
Participants will discuss airport noise regulations and compare their
experiences dealing with airports in their respective communities.

"Cooperation is the big thing," said Dennis McGrann, executive director
of NOISE. "You've got to see parties come together with local consensus
and take a holistic approach to the transportation needs of South
Florida."

Thousands of homes would experience more airplane noise with a south
runway expansion. As a result, some homes would have to be replaced or
insulated.

While Broward's major airport has experienced record growth in recent
months, many residents from Dania Beach, Davie and Hollywood are
concerned about the expansion plan, rumors and unanswered questions.

One key question is where the money will come from to replace or
insulate homes affected by the expansion.

Cynthia Nichol of Leigh Fisher & Associates, consultants studying the
airport's expansion, said funding plans need to be explained.

"The county needs to decide what it wants to do," Nichol said.

Leigh Fisher estimates $270 million is needed to assist homeowners
affected by expansion, but many believe that figure is too low.

It doesn't include the estimated $455 million to $495 million to expand
the runway.

"I believe that we will go over $1 billion, easy, on this project," said
Broward County Commissioner John Rodstrom, a critic of the expansion
plan.

For 25 years, residents, airport and airline officials and
representatives from 20 cities have met monthly to discuss issues at San
Francisco International Airport, said Michael McCarron, director of the
airport's bureau of community affairs.

McCarron, in town for the conference, said that facilitated a $2.5
billion expansion being paid through bonds. He said communication played
an important role in making it a reality.

The conference concludes today at the Sheraton Hotel, 1825 Griffin Rd.
in Dania Beach.


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