CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is coming up with a plan to mitigate noise pollution.
As the airport grows, that means more planes and more noise for surrounding neighborhoods. The expansion is great news for travelers but some neighbors don’t share the same excitement.
One of the many construction projects happening at Charlotte Douglas is the creation of a fourth parallel runway. The airport says it will enhance capacity, which means more planes flying out of CLT and over nearby homes.
Homeowners near the airport like Sherry Robinson sometimes stress over the sound. "If I don’t run to that television to turn it on, it’s constantly boom boom," she shared.
Robinson’s house is next to land recently acquired by the airport. It has double-paneled windows to block out the planes, but they don’t help much.
"We know when the planes are coming out in the morning, I don’t get up with an alarm clock," Robinson said. She added that the noise has gotten worse over the last 10 years but it's something her family has been forced to get used to.
Amid the airport’s expansion, Jack Christine, the airport's chief infrastructure officer, told WCNC Charlotte the new runway, "gives us the ability to continue to have our airline partners grow, especially our hub carrier with American Airlines."
Plus, growing the airport means growing the local economy: "We generate an economic impact every year of about $32 billion," Christine added.
Christine said to address surrounding impacts, the airport is updating its noise compatibility study, which could include when and where planes can land.
"We've spent over $100 million in the community trying to mitigate noise close to the airport and this program builds on that," Christine explained. That money has gone to efforts like buying properties around the airport and insulating hundreds of homes.
Robinson understands the Charlotte airport is growing, but hopes neighbors’ concerns are taken seriously before a plan is approved. "Reach out to us to actually talk and consider our opinions," Robinson urged the city.
The airport plans to release a draft of its updated noise compatibility study and hold a public hearing in early spring. It has also created a website dedicated to the study, which includes notes from previous public meetings.