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AOPA urges California county to create airport land-use commission

AOPA is urging California's Santa Cruz County to create a county-sponsored airport land-use commission to protect Watsonville Regional Airport from potential incompatible development.

The county has a legislative exemption from the airport land-use commission requirements of the California Public Utilities Code. But AOPA is asking the county to create a commission anyway — an important move because the city of Watsonville is planning significant residential projects that could have a detrimental impact on Watsonville airport.

Currently, planning for the airport falls into the city's general plan, which can be changed with little thought to the needs of the airport and its users. A county airport land-use commission would create a comprehensive airport land-use plan and help maintain the positive economic impact that the airport has on the entire county.

March 9, 2005