CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dozens of residents who fought against noise coming from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport for six years are celebrating a win but are still concerned for the future.
[New runway at Charlotte-Douglas Airport may spark noise lawsuit]
The airport settled lawsuits with several residents by paying out a total of $1.5 million. The settlements were funded by airline fees.
Anchor Allison Latos found out future plans at the airport that have people in those communities worried again.
More than 700 planes take off from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport every day.
More than 40 families said their neighborhood was ruined by the constant noise of planes when the airport opened the newest runway in 2010.
In 2012, 46 homeowners so angry over the noise sued the city of Charlotte.
Barry Flaherty has lived in the west Charlotte neighborhood for 13 years and said it was quiet and peaceful until the airport opened the new runway.
He said they lost a lot in the equity in their homes.
“When they come, it’s once a minute,” Flaherty said.
“It's a tough fight,” attorney David Murray said. “A lot of people think you can't fight City Hall but you can.”
More than 100 families in the Steeleberry Acres neighborhood in the Steele Creek area worry their homes could be wiped out with a new 12,000-foot long, fourth parallel runway in the works.
If they’re left standing, Flaherty fears that another quiet neighborhood could hear the constant noise of airplanes overhead.
The FAA IS working on an environmental impact study for the proposed runway, but it won’t be finished until 2020.
Construction is proposed for 2028.
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