- October 30, 2024
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The County Commission has scheduled a workshop to discuss noise at the Flagler County Executive Airport, a response to complaints by citizens who live nearby and say the airport is too loud.
"If you refuse to help us, then we the people of this community that suffer from this will file a class-action lawsuit against the county and the airport for emotional distress."
— JAY SICILIANI, resident, at a Dec. 16 County Commission meeting
The workshop, which will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, in the board chambers of the Government Services Building at 1769 State Road 100, has just one item listed on its agenda, aside from public comment: "Flagler Executive Airport Citizen Noise Concerns Discussion."
The noise level at the airport has prompted occasional complaints by residents at commission meetings over the years.
But at a Dec. 16 meeting, Zinnia Court resident Jay Siciliani threatened to sue to the county and the airport for emotional distress, and asked that the county limit the airport's flight school traffic to 8 a.m. to 5 pm. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, and ban flight school traffic on Sundays and holidays.
"The airport should grow with the community, not against it," he said. "People move to Palm Coast because of the peacefulness and the natural beauty."
Siciliani said that he'd talked to the airport's manager, Roy Seiger, who'd replied that the airport had existed since 1942, before homes were built in the area. Siciliani said he'd responded that the homes had preceded the flight schools.
"If you refuse to help us, then we the people of this community that suffer from this will file a class-action lawsuit against the county and the airport for emotional distress," Siciliani said at the Dec. 16 meeting. "We at home have been monitoring our stress levels while these planes have been operating over our homes, where we should be relaxing with very low or no stress."
About half a dozen residents spoke about the airport at the Dec. 16 meeting. One called the flight school traffic noise intolerable, and another said the noise affected her PTSD.
Gina Weiss, a Zinnia Trail resident, said the noise has worsened.
“I knew I bought a house near an airport, but the planes were — you could tolerate it," she said.
County Administrator Jerry Cameron said the issue was complex, and suggested the county hold a presentation on challenges and potential solutions.
View the agenda for the workshop HERE.
