Trump Sues Palm Beach Over Airport Expansion

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jul 21st 2010 at 6:01PM

Usually I hear about Donald Trump being sued but this time he's going on the offensive in Palm Beach. He has filed a lawsuit suing Palm Beach County over the planned expansion at Palm Beach International Airport. Trump doesn't want the airport to have a second commercial runway and filed suit to block the proposal. Why is Trump against the airport? The flight path would take planes over Trump's Palm Beach Mar-a-Lago estate.

"They are wanting to spend, by the time they finish, over $1 billion to add a runway that's totally unnecessary," Trump told local station WPBF 25 News in a telephone interview. "In order to add the runway, they have to rip down hundreds of millions of dollars in buildings that have just been built where they store the airplanes and offices." Trump says the runway is unnecessary because there is less air traffic and that there is already another runway that could be expanded.

Trump also wants former airport director Bruce Pelly to pay damages caused by jets flying over Trump's home. Trump had previously filed a lawsuit in 1995 saying that noise and exhaust from the jets caused damage to the home. That suit was settled with a deal that had the county agreeing to keep noise levels from rising in the future. As part of the deal, Trump built a luxury golf course on county land that the county agreed to lease to Trump.

Tags: donald trump, Mar-a-Lago, palm

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

lken06880 Jul 22nd 2010 6:57AM

the planes in palm beach have always flown over the estate trump now owns, he knew this when he picked this property up at the bargain price. that is the reason this was the less desirable part of the island to have a house.

Bonnie Jul 23rd 2010 12:12PM

You are absolutely right. The planes have always gone and come right over Mar-A-Lago. I lived on that flight path 10 years ago that was directly across the intercoastal from his mansion. In fact, I think the airport is using an newly extended runway right now that is to Trump's advantage - it goes nw-sw. I just was on a flight where Southwest landed on it last week, and I have NEVER landed from that direction before. It used to be just for small private planes.
Trump needs to back off. He likes the convenience of our airport when his own big jet lands here with himself or his guests.

gg Jul 23rd 2010 8:21PM

BONNIE...I understand the point you are trying to make, however, a runwau cannot go from NW to SW. It can go from NW to SE or NE to SW. The way you describe it is impossible.

gg Jul 23rd 2010 8:18PM

BOONIE...I understand the point you are trying to make, however, it is physically impossible to have a runway go from NW to SW. It could be NW to SE or NE to SW. Never NW to SW

debbie Jul 23rd 2010 9:13PM

watch what you say or he will sue you next......

William Jul 22nd 2010 1:34PM

"That suit was settled with a deal that had the country agreeing to keep noise levels from rising in the future."

The country or county?

RED Jul 22nd 2010 8:21PM

The Donald is always wanting to sue any body if He can't beat then out of money,
He will sue We all know He is there only weekends anyway. Donald, Rush sold and left New York please sell and leave Palm Beach

Jinks Jul 22nd 2010 8:17PM

His problem is not only like many folks who build near airports and then complain about the noise. On the other side of the State of Florida is an area called Long Boat Key...yep a bunch of very rich folks who want the airport close (SRQ) to use it but they don't want the plains to fly over their homes.. The flight path is the safest but little do they care.

Then they also complain about cell phone towers..heave forbit that they see any.but you also understand that they all carry cell phones with them at all times.

And their other story is that the want NO oil drilling in the gulf...they might see the rigs from their homes...but know they drive expensive cars that use oil. Where do they want it to come from

One of the biggest guys on that subject is a Senator who lives in that area..and you know he is lobbying against oil rigs in his line of site...but he is saying it is an envormental thing...yea right.

However, I know for a fact that he even purchased a car for one of his wifes gofers...and she uses it lots.. Where does her gas come from..and not just the local gas station.

No, these very rich folks like Trump need to understand that you build away from things that could impact your life, if you don't like something.

So my stand is, a cell tower in the rich folks back yards and an oil rig that they can see...We Americans need to supply our own oil.

And another thing...all this shutting down of oil driling in the gulf.what about the folks whose jobs will be gone ...not only all the businesses that will suffer.

Let's keep the USA for the real citizens...drill, fly planes and have cell phone towers...it gives work to our country.

stannewman Jul 23rd 2010 8:24PM

Yea, you guys elected Congressman Smooch (remember his free ride on the Shuddle) to the Senate. It appears to me, you got what you paided (voted) for.

I do agree: Americans built this country by being tolerant of the need for the common good and of their neighbors, regardless of their personal opinion.

If you sue me, I would consider not doing business with you until the law suit was settled. Maybe the county airport can ban Donald's airplanes until the law suit is settled.

Pat Jul 22nd 2010 8:26PM

The airport was there LONG before The Donald arrived. People need the airport, but they don't need The Donald. There is absolutely nothing that he provides that the general population could not do without. He only lives at his Palm Beach home probably less than 3 months a year. Yet, he believes that he is so important that he can tell the world when to inhale. I can inhale without him. The airport should win and fly directly over his house!

Pat Jul 22nd 2010 8:29PM

dockguy58 Jul 22nd 2010 8:35PM

get over it . you knew there was an airport there . also do something about that hair of your.

Milo Jul 31st 2010 2:50AM

Will we ever learn that if you buy or build near an airport and the noise increases, they are the ones to move, not the airport. Whill we ever get real?

speakmy mind Jul 22nd 2010 9:10PM

Donald sued Palm Bch Co once already for the same thing and settled for prime county-owned property inbetween Gun Club & Summit, Congress & Kirk. Leased for a dollar a year for 99 years. He than built a very exclusive golf course. Wonder what The Don wants now.

rwfarrell7 Jul 22nd 2010 9:17PM

The over inflated ego and selfishness are two of the worlds biggest problems.

rwfarrell7 Jul 22nd 2010 9:22PM

The over inflated ego and selfishness are two of the worlds biggest problems.

ajschrod Jul 22nd 2010 9:42PM

I get a kick out of Donald, but just being wealthy should not be sufficient to alter an airport's plans to expand. This is America where common sense should trump Trump!

Mark Koenig Jul 22nd 2010 10:02PM

So Donald Trump wants to stop a project that will pump 1 Billion Dollars into jobs, and materials during an economy that is desperate for jobs AND spending money on materials etc..... I guess he's not worried about those who need since he already has his?

rhdaspin Jul 23rd 2010 7:28AM

Say hello to your dad Jerome Mark Koenig!

RHDASPIN

Tim Orris Jul 22nd 2010 10:30PM

Las I heard, the Donald as not comuting to Florida via greyhound, but by a private jet, Just a wild guess, but I bet helands it at that airport. Buy some earplugs or sound proof the building than shut up and quit tieing up the courts

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