Floral Park meeting eyes JFK Airport noise

State Sen. Jack Martins will hold a meeting next week with the Port Authority and allow Floral Park residents to voice concerns on a Kennedy Airport runway expansion plan.

Village Mayor Tom Tweedy and trustee Mary Grace Tomiecki will co-host the meeting Monday, along with the Town-Village Aircraft Safety Noise Abatement Committee, Martin said. The authority is accepting questions and comments about a revised draft environmental report and assessment on runway expansions released this month.

"We need to focus the Port Authority on mitigating local impact when it considers the effect that this change in runway configurations will have on our communities," Martins (R-Mineola) said in a statement.

According to the assessment, one runway at Kennedy could be lengthened by more than 700 feet.

Nassau County officials, including Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and Assemb. Edward P. Ra (R-Franklin Square), have said it is incumbent on the Port Authority to ensure any runway reconfigurations do not result in more aircraft noise for Long Island communities. Murray issued a statement this week calling increased aircraft noise "an issue that severely impacts the quality of life that our neighbors deserve."

Martin said: "This hearing and comment period is also about making sure that our suburban quality of life is not sacrificed for the benefit of everyone's more convenient air travel. One does not necessarily stand at cross-purposes to the other."

The meeting is set for 8 p.m. at the Floral Park Recreation Pool Complex on Stewart Street.