Posted on Fri, Jul. 06, 2012

A federal judge’s ruling Friday will allow construction on a new runway to continue at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport while a legal battle between the city of Dania Beach and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the construction takes place.

Dania Beach filed a lawsuit against the Corps to stop construction after an agreement between the city and Broward County regarding the new runway fell apart.

After filing the suit, the city filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to have construction at the airport halted while the lawsuit plays out.

MOTION DENIED

However, U.S District Judge James Cohn denied the city’s motion.

“Needless to say, we’re happy with the outcome,’’ said Broward Aviation Director Kent George.

“It turned out the way we expected.”

But not everybody was so happy.

“I think the judge’s ruling is disheartening to say the least,” said Dania Beach City Commissioner Anne Castro.

Christine Campbell, whose family has owned a house in the Dania Beach neighborhood of Melaleuca Gardens since the 1950s, said that she doesn’t think the judge’s decision would make a difference.

“It’s sad what’s happening to our little neighborhood,” she said. “I don’t think it really matters at this point.”

In its lawsuit, the city of Dania Beach argues that the Corps failed to examine a study which links noise to cardiovascular disease and hypertension, and shows it also affects cognitive development in children, before issuing a permit for construction.

NOT THEIR JOB

The Corps argues that it was not its responsibility to do so.

The parties involved in the lawsuit have been given an order to meet within the next few weeks to discuss evidence in their cases, said Michelle Diffenderfer , who is representing Broward County in the case.