Commission says 'No' to residential development plan near Flabob Airport

Photo courtesy Flabob Airport

The County of Riverside Planning Commission in California has agreed with AOPA that building residential areas near busy general aviation airports is not in the best interest of the residents or airport users. AOPA had asked the commission to turn down a development proposal that would have rezoned land adjacent to Flabob Airport to permit a medium-high density residential housing area 600 feet from the runway centerline.

The commission expressed support for the privately owned, public-use airport and said that any proposal for development of the land around the airport would have to comply with the airport land use compatibility plan (ALUCP) prepared by the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC).

AOPA and the ALUC had pointed out that the project did not coincide with the airport land-use plan, which requires residential areas to be less dense and located at least 750 feet from the runway centerline.

AOPA also had told the commission that "allowing residential development so close to an airport rather than abiding by the ALUC's long-term plan for compatible development is poor public policy."

Updated: September 30, 2005, 1:45 p.m. EDT