RPC Second staff report
Los Angeles County
Department of Regional Planning
James E. Hard, AICP
March 10, 2005 Director of Planning
TO: Wayne Rew, Chair
Pat Modugno, Vice Chair
Esther L. Valadez, Commissioner Leslie G. Bellamy, Commissioner Harold V. Helsley, Commissioner
FROM: Russell J. Fricano, Ph.D., AICP Section Head Zoning Permits I Section
SUBJECT: SPECIAL PERMIT NO. 1404-(5)
March 16, 2005 Regional Planning Commission Meeting Agenda Item No. 7
Special Permit No.1404-(5) was approved by the Regional Planning Commission on October 27, 1959 to authorize the modification of a number of approved conditions of the previous permit and to allow the expansion, operation and maintenance of a private commercial airport (Airpark) with appurtenant facilities located at 33638 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce. This special use permit has no expiration date.
On August 10, 2004, the Board of Supervisors instructed the Regional Planning Commission to initiate modification/revocation proceedings on Special Permit No. 1404-(5) pursuant to Section 22.56.1785 of the County code. Accordingly, the Regional Planning Commission held a public hearing on October 23, 2004. The operator of the airport and representatives of the Agua Dulce community requested that the public hearing be postponed to allow additional time to meet and to address concerns expressed by the local residents of the community. Subsequently, a public hearing was rescheduled for January 22, 2005, to continue proceedings on the Permit.
On January 22, 2005, the Regional Planning Commission conducted a public hearing at the High Desert School in Acton. The Regional Planning Commission heard the staff report and testimony from the operator of the Airpark and his representative. The Airpark representative presented a proposal to address the concerns of the community. Members and representatives of the Acton Town Council, the Agua Dulce Civic Association, the Concerned Citizens of Agua Dulce and the Federal Aviation Administration also testified regarding the revocation/modification proposal. Supporting and opposing testimony were also received from local residences, local business owners and patrons of the Airpark. Approximately 400 people attended the public
hearing but not all testified. After receiving testimony, the Commission discussed various issues presented at the public hearing and directed the operator of the airport and his representative to meet with local residents and community groups to discuss the proposal. Consequently, the Regional Planning Commission continued the public hearing to March 16, 2005, to allow additional time to attain input from local residents regarding the proposal and instructed the operator to hold meetings with all of these parties participating together.
The Regional Planning Commission also scheduled a field trip to the Airpark on March 5, 2005. Commissioners Bellamy, Helsley, Rew and Modugno were in attendance during the visit to the Airpark. Staff gave the Commission a tour of the Airpark. The Commission also observed flight demonstrations and heard associated noise levels involving six different aircraft at the homes of two local residents. Representatives from the Department of Health Services were present during the demonstration to measure the noise level of the aircrafts at these locations. A representative from the County Department of Public Works Aviation Division was also present.
The attached documents include additional correspondence received by staff since the January 22, 2005, public hearing.
• Letters, petitions and e-mail correspondence from local residents and community groups who request that the Commission revoke or modify Special Permit No. 1404 (Attachment No. 1)
• Letters and correspondence from local residents supporting the Airpark and pilots who are concerned with the Airpark's proposal to redesignate the classification of the airport from "Public-Use" to "Special-Use" (Attachment Nos. 2 and 3).
• Concerned Citizens of Agua Dulce documents to the Commission relating to their concerns. The community group urged revocation of the permit and included proposals to address impacts generated by the Airpark (Attachment No. 4).
• Findings of the Department of Health Services pertaining to the aircraft demonstration during the March 6, 2005, Commission field trip (Attachment No. 5).
• The Airpark representative has submitted an updated proposal to address the concerns of the Agua Dulce community and airport patrons and appurtenant documents relating efforts to procure community participation of the proposal (Attachment No. 6).
• Agua Dulce Civic Association documents to the Commission regarding the community group's general consensus over the Airpark's proposal (Attachment No. 7).
STAFF EVALUATION
A review of the attached material indicates that there are divergent opinions and sentiments with respect to this matter. It does not appear at this time that a complete consensus of opinion can be reached by the various community groups regarding the Airpark's proposal. As such, the Commission should find an equitable solution to this matter after careful deliberation and consideration of all the facts and opinions.
RECOMMENDATION
Prior to taking an action on this case, Staff recommends the Commission consider the facts, analysis and correspondence contained in this letter along with the oral testimony and/or written comments received during the public hearing. If the Commission finds the Airpark's proposal has sufficiently addressed the concerns and issues raised by the local residents and community groups, then staff recommends the following motion:
SUGGESTED MOTION: "I move that the public hearing be continued to a date certain, with any future public testimony being limited to draft conditions prepared at that time, and that the Regional Planning Commission direct staff to independently evaluate the conditions proposed by the airpark operator, to consider reasonable recommendations made by representative groups in the community and to incorporate those into a listing of conditions to be considered at the continued hearing for modification of Special Permit No. 1404-(5)."
However, if the Commission finds that issues of this project cannot be satisfactorily addressed through the Airpark's current proposal or through modification of Special Permit 1404-(5) then it would be appropriate to revoke the permit. Staff recommends the following motion:
SUGGESTED MOTION: "I move that the public hearing be closed and that the Regional Planning Commission indicate its intent to revoke Special Permit No. 1404-(5) and instruct staff to prepare the final environmental documentation and necessary findings for revocation of the permit."
If you need further information, please call Mr. Sam Dea of my staff at (213) 974-6443 Department office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Department is closed on Fridays.
RJF:SZD
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