County fights airspace limits when Trump visits

Palm Beach County isn’t grounding efforts to have flight restrictions loosened when President Donald Trump visits his oceanfront estate, Mar-a-Lago.

Commissioners adopted a resolution Tuesday calling on the Secret Service and Federal Aviation Administration to ease restrictions that bar planes from taking off from Lantana Airport, which is less than 3 miles from Trump’s Palm Beach estate, when he’s there.

“I am hoping the federal government will take a harder look at our request,” said Commissioner Dave Kerner, who represents the airport. “This will provide a lot of relief to business owners and the pilots at Lantana Airport.”

The Secret Service previously has refused to make changes to help flight schools, banner-towing operations and other businesses based at the airport.

In March, U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-West Palm Beach, said it was “made very clear” by the Secret Service the flight restrictions would not be eased, despite the pleas from 28 businesses based at the airport asking for relief. About 250 people work at the airport, according to the county’s resolution.

When the president visits, the airport is effectively shut down. Acounty report in February found just one Trump visit cost businesses $30,000 in lost revenue.

Bruce Pelly, director of airports, said the resolution is

the county’s latest effort to sway the federal government to allow the airport to function during presidential visits.

Officials are also exploring ways to modify the county’s lease with the airport’s operator to provide relief to businesses, Kerner said. The specifics of those changes are expected to be presented next month, he said.

The U.S. Coast Guard is also seeking public input for permanent restrictions on boat traffic near Mar-a-Lago. The restrictions would be in place only when the president, someone in his family or another person requiring Secret Service protection is at the estate.

The proposed restrictions are similar to ones put in place in the spring, but the Coast Guard wanted to give boaters a chance to give input.

Officials hope to have the permanent rules in place by the fall, when Trump is expected to resume seasonal visits to Mar-a-Lago.