City May Oppose Jets on Airstrip

After refusing earlier this year to join an authority that will oversee commercial use of the Point Mugu airstrip, the Camarillo City Council on Wednesday is expected to formally oppose allowing commercial jets on the runway.

A resolution to be considered by the council declares that opening the military airstrip to passenger and cargo jets would create an adverse impact on Camarillo residents.

“It affects the environment and it affects the quality of life in Camarillo,” said Mayor Mike Morgan, who complained that airliners would fly over his city during takeoffs and landings.

“There are other people who are adamant about opposing dumps in their back yards, but that’s going to affect our quality of life even more,” he said. “Tons of pollutants come out of jets every year.”

Officials from Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Thousand Oaks and Ventura County earlier this year formed the Point Mugu Regional Airport Authority, a joint effort to bring passenger air service to the underused runway at Point Mugu.

Navy officials in 1993 offered to let commercial jets use the facility, and a study by the Southern California Assn. of Governments concluded that a regional airport at Point Mugu could be viable.

Officials from the authority now are working on a master plan for the terminal and surrounding grounds.