By AOPA ePublishing staff
The California Senate wants to strengthen the state’s airport land-use laws. On May 1 it passed S.B.1118 by nearly a unanimous vote.
AOPA worked with Sen. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino) to introduce the bill and has been actively working to win its passage.
Amendments, inconsistent administration, and rapidly growing pressure for urban development near airports have weakened California laws protecting airports from incompatible development.
S.B.1118 would strengthen those laws by requiring all counties with at least one public-use airport to have an airport land-use commission. Good land-use planning can preempt noise complaints and safety issues that threaten airports. Marin, San Bernardino, and Santa Cruz counties are among those affected by the bill.
The bill’s next stop is the Assembly’s Local Government Committee.
May 2, 2008