"Airport Land Use: Area Development Could Clash With Sacramento Area Airports"

Friday, June 28, 2002

Report: Area Development Could Clash With Airports
Board Of Supervisors To Look At Jury's List Of Recommendations
KCRA-TV TheKCRAChannel.com


SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. -- Expansion, growth and construction may help
the local economy fly, but a new Grand Jury report says that those
things are happening dangerously close to Sacramento area airports.

The Grand Jury took a hard look at Mather and Sacramento International
airports. The study claimed that the Sacramento County Board of
Supervisors and the Sacramento City Council have already allowed plans
near both airports that would threaten expansion.

One example is the Villages of Zinfandel, which has prevented any chance
of expanding Mather's northern runway.

And planned developments around Sacramento International could threaten
how the airport operates.

Sacramento County planning director Tom Hutchings said that the Board of
Supervisors shares the jury's concerns but that they made their
development decisions wisely.

"The Board has a long history of being concerned about making sure the
development around the airports is compatible. The standards that the
county uses are higher than the state standards," Hutchings said.

The Grand Jury report says that if people are allowed to move too close
to the airports, it could mean airport curfews and restricted flight
paths.

Sacramento International Airport spokeswoman Cheryl Demetriff said that
the airport is reviewing the report. But she also said that one thing
Sacramento International has going for it is a large land buffer.

"We have over 5,500 acres here on our property. Obviously, we're
concerned about land-use plans in general. But I think we're much more
positioned better than other airports in California, for example, for
growth," Demetriff said.
The Grand Jury has submitted a list of recommendations that they think
will help the airports. The Board of Supervisors will now consider
adopting those plans.


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