COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS - M. GILBERT

Receive Draft Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan and Draft Initial Study - Negative Declaration for the Frazier Lake Airpark.

No action to be taken at this time, information only.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 1035

Airport Land Use Commissions (ALUC) have been established for all counties with public use airports within the State of California. ALUCs are formed with the specific intent of implementing State law, regarding airports and surrounding land use for compatibility. The purpose of ALUCs is to protect public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring the orderly expansion of airports and the adoption of land use measures that minimize the public’s exposure to excessive noise and safety hazards within areas around public airports.

As a primary function, ALUC must prepare an Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan in accordance with the California Airport Land Use Planning Handbook, which is published by the California Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics.

The Council of San Benito County Governments acting in its capacity as the Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) for San Benito County, has the basic function of preparing an Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan (Compatibility Plan). The Compatibility Plan promotes compatibility between Frazier Lake Airpark and the land uses surrounding it. This function is accomplished through establishment of a set of compatibility criteria applicable to new development proposed around the Airpark. All development projects proposed within the Airport Influence Area for Frazier Lake Airpark are subject to ALUC review. Geographically, the Compatibility Plan pertains to lands within the jurisdiction of San Benito County.

However, neither the Compatibility Plan nor the ALUC have authority over existing land uses, approval or disapproval of projects, or airport operations. ALUC can only find a proposed project as either Consistent or Inconsistent with the Compatibility Plan.

Over the last several months, the San Benito County Airport Land Use Commissions (ALUC) has been working on the preparation of the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan for Frazier Lake Airpark (Compatibility Plan).

The ALUC Board of Directors released the draft Compatibility Plan and Draft Initial Study for a Proposed Negative Declaration at their September 19, 2019 meeting (Attachment 1 and 2). The official Draft Plans are posted at this website, http://sanbenitocog.org/aluc/.

As part of the development of the Plan, ALUC staff established a Project Development Team composed of County of San Benito Planning Department staff, the Frazier Lake Airpark Airport Manager, and Aviation Consultant Walter Windus to formulate the enclosed Compatibility Plan.

In addition to establishing a Project Development Team, ALUC staff conducted the following preliminary public outreach to ensure early community engagement.

•  Developed project website http://sanbenitocog.org/aluc/.
•  Mailed a project information letter to property owners located within the Airport Influence Area.
• Placed two 4’ x 8’ bilingual project signs (May – October) at locations near Frazier Lake Airpark.
• Held one-on-one meetings with property owners.
• Presented to the Frazier Lake Airpark Board of Directors.
• Prepared a press release notifying the public of the availability of the documents.

Upon ALUC's adoption of the Compatibility Plan, the County, as the agency with land use authority for the land surrounding the Airpark, has the responsibility to enforce the Compatibility Plan per Public Utilities Code §21670. Specifically, Government Code Section §65302.3(b) mandates the County to incorporate Compatibility Plan provisions into its General Plan and/or Specific Plans within 180 days of the Plan being adopted by ALUC.

The Compatibility Plan provides sample documents and guidance to implement the Compatibility Plan by the County of San Benito.

Below is the Compatibility Plan project timeline.