Tuolome County airports adopt land use plan
In a move designed to protect Tuolome County's two publicly owned airports from incompatible development, the Airport Land Use Commission for the county recently adopted an airport land use compatibility plan. The 5-1 vote was the culmination of four years' work on that plan, which affects Columbia Airport and Pine Mountain Lake Airport.
The decision opened the way for a vote by the Tuolome County Board of Supervisors, but the plan met with some opposition at that level. Bob Neuer, the sole dissenting vote on the Airport Land Use Commission, claimed that the plan places too many restrictions on future development near the airports and asked the supervisors to postpone a vote on the plan, dismiss all current members of the Airport Land Use Commission, and hold an election for new commissioners. AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer and commission member Alan Wallace also addressed the supervisors, speaking in support of the plan and warning the panel about the dangers of uncontrolled development near airports.
Although the supervisors expressed some concerns about the compatibility plan and scheduled a review of those items, the panel adopted the measure and instructed county staff to implement it. The land use compatibility plan also has been endorsed by state aeronautics officials.
Aircraft owners lose appeal of Sonoma County tax
Aircraft owners based in Sonoma County recently lost their appeal of a county property tax, which they say was incorrectly applied. Under county law, all aircraft and hangar owners must pay a personal property tax based on the market value of their asset. The revenue raised from the tax is split equally among the county general fund, Petaluma schools, and Petaluma Municipal Airport. In 2002 each group received approximately $42,000 in property tax revenue.
The dispute is not over the tax itself, but over the way in which the tax has been assessed in recent years. For new aircraft, the law provides for a "cost basis" assessment, which is determined by adding sales tax to the aircraft selling price to determine the asset's value. For used aircraft, the law provides for a market value-based assessment, which is determined by the blue book value without the addition of sales tax. Aircraft owners claim the county assessor has incorrectly been adding sales tax to the blue book value of used aircraft in determining their value, resulting in overpayment of approximately $40 for an average general aviation piston single and $250 for an average turbine aircraft.
Recent appeals to the County Board of Assessment Appeals have been denied. While one of the board's three members agreed that aircraft and hangar owners had been overcharged, the board's two other members disagreed. Thomas McGaw, ASN volunteer for Petaluma Municipal Airport, has been watching the process closely and expects more appeals to follow.
New era of cooperation inaugurated at Porterville
After years of hostility and struggle among city officials, airport management, and airport users, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Benjamin Arnold says there is a new spirit of cooperation at Porterville Municipal Airport. A new city manager, airport manager, and City Council members have shown support for the airport and made users feel that their perspective and input is valued. To ensure that they are heard, airport users recently formed an Airport Advisory Committee that meets regularly with City Manager John Longley and recently held meetings with the consulting firm developing a master plan for the field.
Arnold reports that the cooperative attitude is a pleasant change after years of battling encroachment and incompatible development. Airport users fought vigorously for years to oppose a sports complex that they feared would create a hazard both to pilots and to people on the ground. That complex received city approval over the objections of AOPA and airport users and has since been constructed approximately 400 feet from the departure end of Runway 30.
Space for piston aircraft assured at Van Nuys
The untiring efforts of AOPA, AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Elliot Sanders, and airport users have led to the decision to specifically set aside space for piston aircraft at Van Nuys Airport. A resolution designating at least 37 acres of airport property for the exclusive use of piston aircraft was recently approved by the Citizens Advisory Council for the Van Nuys Airport. Before the resolution can become part of the airport's master plan, it must be endorsed by the Board of Airport Commissioners and approved by the Los Angeles Planning Commission. From there it will go to the Los Angeles City Council.
Piston-powered aircraft have been in danger of being displaced from the busy airport as a result of leaseholder improvements geared toward larger turbine aircraft. But in the past six months, the Van Nuys Airport Propeller Aircraft Association has worked closely with local homeowners groups and other interested parties to show the value of keeping the airport accessible to piston-powered aircraft. The land set aside for housing piston aircraft is the former site of the Air National Guard ramp, located on the west side of Bull Creek and adjacent to Balboa Boulevard.
Budget crisis hot topic at Association of California Airports meeting
At a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Association of California Airports, discussion centered on California's budget crisis and the potential impact on airports throughout the state. The association has been actively involved in efforts to prevent the proposed transfer of an additional $5.2 million from the state aeronautics account to the general fund, but it seems likely that the transfer will take place. As a result the board also spent time discussing possible courses of action in the event the money is lost to airports. While the entire range of consequences is not yet known, it is clear that the loss of funds would prevent 140 eligible California airports from receiving grants used for operations and maintenance. In addition, the loss of the state contribution to the local share of federal Airport Improvement Program grants could severely impact many local governments' ability to accept federal grants this fiscal year. According to current estimates, approximately $59 million in federal funds intended for improvements at general aviation airports could be lost. The Division of Aeronautics is preparing a report to the California Transportation Commission detailing the potential impacts of the proposed transfer to California airports programs.
AOPA rep speaks to Assembly Committee on Airports about noise issues
AOPA Regional Representative John Pfeifer recently appeared before the Assembly Select Committee on Airports and the Airline Industry. The purpose of the hearing was to give members of the committee an opportunity to hear from experts in the field of airport noise, to educate policymakers on noise and land use issues in communities near airports, and to develop ideas for improved ways of mitigating airport noise. The committee invited testimony from a wide range of industry sources, including local, state, and federal agencies, airport noise consultants, airports, and community groups. Pfeifer provided testimony on the success of the current state noise standards since the 1970s, the short-term need to strengthen California's Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) laws, and the long-term need to implement the California Transportation Commission's December 2001 recommendations to the legislature regarding aviation needs in the state. Two themes emerged throughout the testimony of many panelists during the hearing. First, the committee was urged to understand that all airports are different and a one size fits all approach to noise mitigation will not work. Second, the importance of compatible land use planning and strengthening the current ALUC laws was emphasized. The committee plans to hold additional hearings in the future.
Oceanside safe — for now
After a 3-2 vote, the Oceanside City Council recently agreed to proceed with airport improvements at Oceanside Municipal Airport. The decision to follow the master plan for the field will effectively keep the airport open, at least in the short term.
Under the plan, the airport will be home to new hangars, an administrative building, and a restaurant. The field will ultimately be able to accommodate up to 250 based aircraft in hangars and at tiedowns.
The victory is the result of tireless work on the part of AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer Arty Sternberg as well as numerous other members of the Oceanside community. City officials had long threatened to close the airport and develop the property.
But Sternberg and other observers warn that the continued existence of the airport is by no means guaranteed. City officials must approve each step of the improvement program before it can move forward. In addition, airport users stress the need for pilots to continue to be good neighbors and follow voluntary noise-abatement measures.
Parade of planes scheduled for San Jose
An extraordinary sight will greet residents of San Jose on May 10 when a parade of planes makes its way through the streets of downtown San Jose. The event will be part of a Space Day/Millennium of Flight event sponsored by the City of San Jose, The Tech Museum, The Hiller Museum, Lockheed Martin, and the NASA Ames Research Center. The event is expected to feature NASA displays, a replica of the Wright Flyer, and a tethered hot air balloon.
Owners of historic aircraft with wingspans no greater than 34 feet are being invited to participate. Interested owners should contact Carl Honaker by e-mail ( [email protected]). Participating aircraft will be displayed for the day on Park Street, just north of The Tech Museum and across from Cesar Chavez Park.
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