Destin City Council to weigh in on F-35 jets, noise

At a special meeting Monday night, Destin City Council will weigh the merits of a boost to the Emerald Coast economy compared to the drawbacks of added noise overhead.

At issue are plans to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the related equipment and personnel at Eglin Air Force Base. Destin Mayor Craig Barker told The Log this week that there’s been enough “negative publicity” locally that the Pentagon is now looking at relocating the F-35 mission elsewhere, which would cost the county — according to a presentation by the Emerald Coast Military Affairs Council — $12 million in increased public school revenue, $700 million in construction, “unprecedented local area growth ... property values increased ... local economy flourishes.”

Noise is the drawback. A report from Eglin indicated that under a “worst case scenario” — measuring sound levels under the basing plan that generates the most noise — parts of Destin could be subject to 65-70 decibels in added noise from the F-35s flying overhead. Parts of Valparaiso could face 85 decibels.

Monday, Destin City Council received a copy of the report, along with a resolution supporting the F-35s moving here. Councilor Dewey Destin asked to postpone discussion until the next meeting so that they could review the report, which the council agreed to.
Barker told The Log Thursday that Okaloosa County’s mayors met and signed a different resolution this week, except Crestview’s mayor, who’d been absent, and Barker, who has to receive council approval first. The council will make its decision at Monday’s meeting.

The resolution reads: “Whereas Eglin AFB is a national treasure with its extensive air, land and water ranges; its location within the various  multi-service military installations; its unique cradle-to-grave capability for air munitions development, testing and acquisition; its ability to absorb new missions with minimal impact on existing missions; and its superlative supportive community relations;

“Whereas, in the interest of national security, the aging USAF fighter fleet is being updated with new, more capable aircraft. As part of that modernization, the 33rd Fighter Wing, its aircraft and personnel are being deactivated and moved from Eglin AFB leaving empty and unused facilities and other infrastructure on base, all of which will significantly diminish the military’s estimated annual $7 billion economic impact on surrounding communities;

“Whereas, the BRAC ‘05 chose Eglin as the most cost-effective and optimum mission location to base the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Joint Integrated Training Center, associated equipment and personnel, thereby utilizing significant portions of the empty infrastructure, as well as providing ready access to available ranges and air space;

“Whereas, environmental studies have shown potential for some adverse noise compatibility issues in worst-case scenarios, causing concern and vocal opposition within a few nearby neighbors, which, in turn, might cause the Air Force to look at other options;

“Whereas, we, the elected mayors of cities and municipalities adjacent to Eglin AFB with the goal of continued excellent military/community relations, our support of improved national security, and in the interest of maintaining a continued healthy economic impact from the military;

“We therefore do proclaim as elected leaders of municipalities in the Eglin AFB neighborhood, and in coordination with the Emerald Coast Military Affairs Council, appointed our group as the Team Eglin Mayors’ and Community Leaders’ Council and do hereby welcome and strongly support the F-35 bed down and the training mission at Eglin AFB as planned in the BRAC ‘05 decision, and are fully committed to working with the USAF officials to resolve these compatibility issues in a timely and satisfactory manner.”

Barker said the resolution would be sent to the key military decision-makers to show local support was solid.

Barker said one concern he’d heard from other mayors is that homes exposed to higher noise levels would be cut off from federal mortgage financing when sold or resold, but Destin lenders said while the sellers would have to disclose the noise exposure, it wouldn’t bar them from financing.

The mayor said that Valparaiso’s mayor had signed the resolution, even though Valparaiso faces higher noise levels than any area of Destin.

Decibel levels:
60 decibels: Conversational speech 1 foot away
60-70 decibels: A busy street, a small orchestra
70 decibels: Vacuum cleaner.
70-80 decibels: Typical home stereo listening level; average factory; acoustic guitar 1 foot away.
80-90 decibels: Heavy truck traffic.
Sources: coolmath.com, asha.org.