Joanne Swanson's statement at 1-22-05 County Hearing
My name is Joanne Swanson -- I am Vice- President of the Agua Dulce Civic Association. I am also Chair of the Airport Committee.
The Civic Association has been involved in the airport issue since 1959. The Community agreed to the establishment of the airport in 1958 for a maximum of 20 based aircraft.
Since 1959, they've been fighting expansion. It's the longest running issue in our Community. I don't want to take your time to look at the maps, at this moment, but the map that you see in 1961, was approved as condition #1 of 1404, does not reflect the Exhibit “A” map, shown to the Community at the hearing.
That has been the source of all of our problems with 1404, Permit 1404. It shows huge amount of hangers, huge amounts of aircraft, when 1404 was a modification of 1352 and in '64, another permit was issued which got to the whole issue again and reiterated that there was a 20 plane limit on this airport and the extension was for its' expiration was continued from 1968 to 1970.
This permits been running from 1964 - they were granted that permit -- in 1968 they said it had lapse for non-use. It was used. It was convenient for the county to lapse the permit. The city of L.A. leased the airport for $1.00 per year the very day the permit expired, the very first permit.
So we've been fighting this. We've had a huge problem, not only with the airport operators but with the County and their interpretation of the permits.
However, we have come to realize that the airport will probably not go away and we have entered into discussions with Armbruster and Goldsmith and Mr. Aaron Clark to resolve some of our differences. We began that discussion in December 27, and we believe we have come up with conditions we can live with.
We are not happy with all of them and I believe the Airport is probably not happy with all of them which means that we are probably close to a resolution.
I just think it's important for you to understand what a stress this has been on the Community for all these years because the Regional Planning Commissioners never granted a permit on this Airport for over 20 based aircraft. We looking today at maybe agreeing to 65, only 56 pilots being able to use the airport, having it go to private-use instead of public, which will resolve all of our problems.
So, that's the lynch pin -- if this airport can go private and not be open to the public, we believe that we can live with it and he can make a living on selling hangers and leasing out hanger pads. So that's really the germ of our negotiation.
So I would like to introduce Barbara, etc.
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