Costa Mesa opposes unrestricted flights over new developments

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- The City Council passed a resolution Monday opposing the

county’s Airport Land Use Commission proposal that would allow airplanes

to fly free and without restrictions over new developments near John

Wayne Airport.

The proposal would force cities to impose easements on new projects near

John Wayne Airport and serve as rights of way for airplanes to fly

unrestricted over new developments.

“I don’t think the way this has been proposed does anybody any good,”

said Councilman Joe Erickson, who represents the League of California

Cities on the land use commission.

The commission is concerned about people buying property without knowing

they are in flight paths, Erickson said. But the proposed amendment, he

stressed, rather than protecting residents or others buying property in

the area, could actually benefit airports more by allowing the

unrestricted flights.

In Costa Mesa, one family who could be affected directly is the Sakiokas,

Erickson said. George Sakioka, who owns undeveloped farmland in South

Coast Metro, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Airport officials downplayed the effect the revision would have on Costa

Mesa.

John Wayne Airport spokeswoman Nghia Nguyen said that because the change

would apply only to certain undeveloped areas, none of the neighborhoods

in Costa Mesa need fear a sudden increase in air traffic.

The Airport Land Use Commission has attempted similar amendments in the

last few years that have been opposed by various cities. At this time, 10

cities are opposed to the amendment, said Tamara Campbell, senior planner

with the city.

According to staff, the amendment would:

* allow property to be legally subjected to environmental impacts such as

aircraft noise without compensation or mitigation.

* require the city impose a condition of approval on developments on

behalf of the Airport Land Use Commission.

* permit airports to expand their noise and vibration impacts without

having to compensate adjacent property owners.

* enable airports to expand without fully mitigating the impacts of their

expansion.

“If we impose the easement we would be imposing a blanket condition

without knowing what the project is,” Campbell said. “We feel conditions

of approval need to be established based on the individual merits of a

project.”

A possible consequence of this conflict between cities and the Airport

Land Use Commission has come in the form of a veiled threat from the

commission to deem city’s general plans noncompliant with the

commission’s land use plan, said Donald Lamm of the city’s development

services department.

Developments are required to come before the Airport Land Use Commission

for a finding of consistency. If the city overrules the commission’s

finding, the city could be held liable for accidents, pollution and other

impacts.

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