During a recent presentation, officials from the county's aviation department updated area residents and the West Kendall Community Council on its plans to expand the runway at the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport.
Planes arriving at Kendall-Tamiami are currently landing on a 5,000-foot runway.
The idea of a 1,800-foot runway extension westward has been so well received, the aviation department is now looking at the possibility of also spreading the runway eastward, officials said.
Discussions to expand the runway westward have been in the works for about a year. But this is a 20-year-old fight. Two decades ago, residents were less receptive to similar plans. In the past, residents were worried about noise and safety.
''This runway issue is a political hot potato,'' said Thomas Shaifer, owner of Silver Express, located at the airport. ''This should have been done years ago. Everyone is scared of a political outcry because of what happened in the '80s.''
This time around, politicians, homeowners and aviation businessmen are hoping negotiation talks will run smoother.
Narinder S. Jolly, an assistant aviation director, spoke about the positive impacts of the stretch. Kendall-Tamiami would remain a general aviation airport, he said, which restricts it from welcoming any planes larger than the ones already landing at the airport located west of Southwest 137th Avenue and south of Southwest 120th Street.
The plan is still in its early stages. The airport layout plan has been funded and is expected to be completed in two months, Jolly said. Then the plans will be handed to the Federal Aviation Administration for approval.
But Jolly explained that the project has not been funded. It is expected to cost about $12 million, funded mostly by FAA, not the county.
But until Jose Abreu takes office on July 11 as the county's new aviation director, the project cannot be placed on the aviation's Capitol Improvement Plan.
''We've been in a tight financial situation since 9/11,'' said Jolly. ''Airport staff does understand that this is an opportunity. But we must balance are income with our expenses.''
On average, he said, these improvement plans take about 15 years to complete.
Councilman Patrick Fiore, who lives near the airport, said 15 years is simply too long. The environmental impact study alone is scheduled to take about three to five years to complete and is expected to cost about $1 million.
''This is a big issue for me. I think this is needed in the community. It will help overall with jobs and it's important for the economic drive in West Kendall,'' Fiore said. ''If the environmental impact study can be shortened, that would make all the difference in the world.'''
